A | = | JULY 1949 VOL. 11, No.7 ° Wu = > (a ud WN) Lu L. I (aa) = = = © LL Bs Le Inter o 10r United States Department of the Washington ,D.C UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ALBERT M. DAY, Director J.A.KRUG, Secretary S) =) COMMERCIAL DEVIF < zea A REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS AND NEWS OF THE FISHERY INDUSTRIES FISHERIES PREPARED IN THE BRANCH OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES A. W. Anderson , Editor R.T Whiteleather, Associate Editor Wm.H. Dumont and J. Pileggi, Assistant Editors Applications for COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW, which is mailed tree to members ot the fishery industries and allied interests,should be addressed to the Director, Fish ond Wildlife Service, United States Department of the Interior, Washington, 25, D.C. The contents of this publication have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted freely; however, reference to the source will be apprecioted. The Service assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of material from outside sources. CONTENTS COVER: CONTRACT FISHING IN LAKE SHETAK, MINNESOTA, UNDER THE SUPER- V!SION OF THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION. PAGE STORAGE LIFE OF WHOLE AND SPLIT ROCKFISH FILLETS, BY M. E. STANSBY AND J. DASSOW . | CHICAGO RECEIPTS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS, 1948. BY c. M. REARDON gecsccccseressasscecer 9 ss * eH RESEARCH IN SERVICE LABORATORIES ...cececececcecscscecccercccccssccsssecsessoccees 17 TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS . .cccccccerercccccccccccsocecersscsecccesscscscsscseneros IO ADDITIONS TO THE FLEET OF U.S. FISHING VESSELS ..ccescseeeesecorccoreresecsesres 19 ECA PROCUREMENT AUTHROIZATIONS FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS ..c.e+e ceececsscererecsreces 19 EXPERIMENTAL FISHING IN ALASKAN WATERS BY THE SERVICE ..seesesesererers FEDERAL PURCHASES OF FISHERY PRODUCTS .ccceacsoccscscrececesesecctcsecsrssacenes ZI FISHERIES OF CERTAIN PACIFIC ISLANDS ...csesecccccecsccterecccereucrssersssccoes 21 FISHERY BIOLOGY NOTES wc cece vcccccceccscccercccccrcccsecccs eeseccsencs HALIBUT SEASON ON WEST COAST CLOSED ..seescocccececcceretecererscseseestesesses 28 PACIFIC OCEANIC FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUES TUNA RESEARCH ...eseeeseeaeeres 23 TRUST TERRITORY RESEARCH PROGRAM INCLUDES SPONGES AND POISONOUS FISH ....seeeee+ 24 VIRGINIA MENHADEN INDUSTRY USES PLANE TO SPOT FISH .c.esereceserererereces UN SMMPACKUOPMCANNEDIVALEWIIVES | Sijaisicie cic clsicjaicrsic ole +/4/e:vleleleiehsluieinieleleiejelslsiase U.S. PACK OF CANNED GROUNDFISH FLAKES, 1948 ....ceessecreesceerrves PACK OF CALIFORNIA SARDINES, 1948 veccecerccmccetesctcesteeserretescscsssersener 20 PACK OF MAINE SARDINES, 1948 .sccesccscsccccscetserceeeteresetesteceecerereteeee 27 U.S. PACK OF ATLANTIC COAST SEA HERRING, 1948 .cscecesesevecesecssrrerascesssees 28 | PACK OF PACIFIC COAST SEA HERRING, 1948 ..ccceseecccsescrerersecscecssencss 28 . PACK OF CANNED SHAD, 1948 ..cesecerercerrccccccesss ces cesessreescccseseress 29 | PRODUCTION OF MENHADEN PRODUCTS, 1948 ....ceeecesccecescreteseverstsensesee 30 U.S. PRODUCTION OF OYSTER AND MARINE-CLAM SHELL PRODUCTS, 1948 ....0ee-eesereree SI WHOLESAU ED ANDI RETAIIONPRIICES eaeciclonionie sivas aieioeisinletetsicle sievelsisielelclelolorelel* lol>.eleafeleleratele[elelaniS)! FOREIGN rece lee eee eee rere bavetotelclatovaiatevateiets febevoreicletnisieleteletalelsislefelelalereieeis/helereloresaleleSo BAHAMA’ |SLANDS (BRITISH WEST INDIES) ..... Ruetibaniarereaemes BIIZONERGERMANYsereeiiromiceleticletcistetcheiterelecleiicicisiclere j : Ua aomanodoiy ee CARTON BanBapegneu da oonb boc soSeaGuooUonond On0b dobDDoad Doo cUIMdaKdoooaoSsoroodboned SH EAA) } dnadancoodepoeboo sbedoounuObouadodoobacd coanodonooo OcodSdasoboON 2000000.E9 CHILE wosccccccvreecescccervere UE ea Rae raietvetsietelovereieieiereicilelofotlsfevototeleyetoMeis FRANCE . cc csesereresercreeence ITN ESU G60 Hoon bboGbbuo bao bAuode SoosdbocpaobouorGDOob0 SUL OconodoDooEdoDOGago00 Si/ BED OBObONGOaKO CosaUceaDOSOOnEdoODDS ST/ JAPAN ccccccoressseree sce tdecree secretes essa seers ereses oes vstassrssssasesssss es 38 MANDATED !SLANDS ... SINGUO OOOO Ao OODEOD O00 BUO0U Go SobLICodlodocunodeod gdddasad00 SE) MOROCCO 2, cacccccecsccer ccc cocare sss cs cece seers cae neeersre ceseassas mosses NETHERLANDS ...cesccorascccrrrcroresstorsesesvereeartres recesses esesesesere . Na) aU Di and dou ckobusouomooUuodendaosoude cbbedUucdcenbooomdcnacconodcAsoodMons 4S) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ..c.ccesssccccvscenrercccreseseasscres socveweres 44 SPAIN coccceccsteorencesccresseree res ereseee roar renmaeseseceaarsrereresesesetas UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA ceveecunresccrovecertrerereessesares UNITED KINGDOM ...c20. 5+ cccccccsenccrnceersseresnsonsesaserorersesesanss URUGUAYAN Nee ere a totelcteterelaeloie to letoraiciale oveinsetcielelelclelslareeiotelcia(siaatalisl=\elole/o\aelefajelelelele)sleretelei ao INTERNA TAONAlD crete nan tte reletarsiate sloilersleteieistaiateveleleroisdckotctalel-telsleterepeionelsisfereiixtnialstel ofelisiel=iatelelaieh 5 FEDERALMAGTANONS! tetris crecvaiialetcle ctetarchalcielelels lefataleleKelebslafefalare salelulafelal elete ipialalelais/elelojeleleialels\ eel oo) EIGHTY-FIRST CONGRESS (FIRST SESSION) = JUNE W949) ooo c celeste ole clelsialewieis'ciclee sieidioe ele DO GRAPHS) ciols nalts cisicicieclejciei s +s eipic'ecslb o\«\sisieieluicoin a sluice sipin ese cieuvpesueaticase vicsie sec vicivisi (Od LANDINGS AND RECEIPTS wc ecnnsnnvccssoncreresencersscceesers som ee eccwserencs OG COLD STORAGE HOLDINGS AND FREEZ!INGS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS .....-.« eens ererecae OD CANNED FISHERY PRODUCTS ..cccncwcrereccerererserstesrereremonnnsesrerawsesseresss OO PRICES, !MPORTS AND BYPRODUCTS ...c-crorccernreerecerscccresmeresrenssecessersses Of RECENT FISHERY PUBLICATIONS ....seeeessesreesveree Rec etc rc cece crccacnceageosees OF FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ..cccecceseccnrerccscsveresssesscesessses O2 ARTICLES BY FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AUTHORS IN OTHER PUBLICATIONS ..-.-+.2-0+++ 63 MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS ..cccoceessorertscverescavercoee ec ccccccereccccreser OF a = | wt < Go: = z 2 N July 1949 Washington 25,D.C. STORAGE LIFE OF WHOLE AND SPLIT ROCKFISH FILLETS 5 oe By Maurice E.Stansby and John Dassow ABSTRACT Utilizing newly developed fish skinning machines, fish fil- lets can be cut into two or more split fillets, When rockfish fillets are split, or when a small portion of the dark fatty flesh just beneath the skin is removed, an increase in the cold- storage life of the frozen product of from two to four times can be obtained, Splitting of the thick rockfish fillets (or pre- sumably other similar species) has several other advantages, in- cluding production of fillets of uniform thickmess, ability to cut fillets to a thickmess suitable for any type of cookery, and improvement in texture of the fish, INTRODUCTION When a customer enters a meat market, she is not expected to depart with a side of beef just because that is the way it is delivered to the butcher. She has a large choice of cuts. If a roast is desired, a cut is available for such means of cookery. I1f she desires something for broiling or frying, a steak or chop of convenient dimensions is available. Yet when purchasing fish, very lit- tle consideration is given to such matters. If the customer desires a thin piece of fish for frying, she is restricted to certain species such as flounder or "sole". Fillets from fish which yield thicker cuts are not available in any other form. SLICING OR SPLITTING FISH FILLETS This lack of variety in available cuts of fish is due, in part, to lack of suitable slicing machines which can handle fish. Recently several fish skinning machines have been introduced, which, by a minor adjustment, can be adapted to slicing fish fillets into segments of any desired thickness. Fish are filleted and fed into such machines to remove the skin, usually by means of some sort of a band saw or continuous knife cutting between the skin and fillet. If the skinned fillet is passed through the machine a second time, a very thin segment of fillet of the same thickness as the skin is removed. By adjusting the depth of cut, this thickness can be increased to the point where the fillet is split into two portions of more or less equal thicknesses. Since such machines are quite expensive, it would be unlikely that a retail fish store would be interested in installing one. However, special fillet cuts couldeasily be prepared by the producer after the fillets are cut. *Chemists, Fishery Technological Laboratory, Branch of Commercial Fisheries, Seattle, Wash. 2 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES IN SPLITTING FILLETS There are a number of potential advantages in splitting fillets. The most obvious of these is the possibility of producing the more desirable thin sections of fish from thick fillets. When fish fillets are fried, it is customary to dip the fillet in corn meal, bread crumbs, or other similar material, and fry in fat until a crisp brown exterior results. The desired characteristic fried fish flavor is due as much to this crisp exterior coating as to the fish itself, and unless the fish is very thin, it will tend to affect the crisp fried coating with mois— ture from the fish so that the desired flavor and texture are not obtained. act OT INLET END OF FISH SKINNING MACHINE. FILLETS ARE LAID SKIN SIDE DOWN ON THE BELT AND ARE CARRIED THROUGH ROLLERS WHICH HOLD THE FISH AS THE SKIN |S REMOVED BY THE CONTINUOUS KNIFE. ; A second advantage of split fish fillets lies in the possibility of obtain— ing fillets of uniform thickness, This is a valuable property for several rea- sons. It facilitates the packaging of fillets to be frozen by making possible a package of uniform thickness in which there will be a minimum of air voids. Such air spaces should be eliminated in order to reduce oxidation during storage, which will result in discoloration and rancidity. Fillets of uniform thickness have certain advantages for restaurant, hotel, and institutional users. It is much easier to divide uniformly thick fillets into portions of equal weight, and duly 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 3 as a result, equal—-sized portions will then be of equal area. Of even greater advantage is the fact that each member of a group of equally thick fillet por- tions requires the same cooking time and can thus be handled with the least at— tention. A third advantage to split fillets is the possibility of dividing the fil- lets into two or more grades, each grade having a different flavor, and poSsibly a different cold—-storage life, Many fish fillets have a layer of fatty dark flesh immediately beneath the skin. This dark flesh has a different flavor than does the bulk of the lighter colored flesh. In some instances, at least, the dark fatty flesh is more susceptible to oxidative rancidity in cold storage than is the lighter meat. This raises the possibility of splitting the fillets into two or more segments in such a way as to increase the cold storage life of a portion of the fillets. A fourth possible advantage is the probability that splitting the fish fil- lets might, in some cases, favorably alter the texture of the fish. It is well known that the proper carving of meat, by cutting across the grain, improves pal-— atability by avoiding stringy texture because the muscle fibers are shortened. Some species of fish have a tendency to be tough, and proper cutting might re-— duce this toughness. CLOSE-UP VIEW OF INLET END OF SKINNING MACHINE. 4 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 A fifth potential advantage of split fillets lies in the possibility of in- creasing the storage life of unfrozen fillets by removing the surface layer in which a large part of the bacteria are concentrated. It has been shown by Wood, Sigurdsson, and DyerL that spoilage of fish starts at the surface where bacteria enter the fish from the outside, and that by far, the greatest bacterial popula— tion is concentrated at the surface. The possibility exists that removal of this surface layer would reduce the susceptibility of the fish to bacterial spoilage and thus prolong the storage life of the fish when stored at temperatures above freezing. A sixth advantage of being able to split fish fillets lies in the possibility of developing special recipes if very thin fillets were available. For example, thin fillets cut into individual portions could be coated with a bread crumb or corn meal mixture, packed four or any number of portions to the package, and fro-— zen. The advantages in marketing such a uniform product are readily conceivable. APPLICATION TO PACIFIC COAST ROCKFISH FILLETS Pacific Coast rockfish (Sebastodes) lends itself especially well to prepa-— ration of split fillets. The normal rockfish fillets are unusually thick, a property which has retarded popular acceptance of the species. A certain pecu— liar texture of rockfish results from the long muscle fibers. This has sometimes been considered an advantage when the stringy texture has been compared to that of crab meat, while others have described the texture as an undesirable toughness. Rockfish contain a layer of dark fatty flesh beneath the skin which is very sus— ceptible to oxidation.- During frozen storage it becomes almost black in color and a decidedly unpleasant rancid flavor develops. It is possible that all of these problems might be solved if the fillets were to be split. The present in- vestigation concerns itself chiefly with the storage properties of such split rockfish fillets. (The fillets were prepared by using the Jensen Fish Splitting— Skinning Machine.) PRELIMINARY TESTS A few preliminary examinations were made of split rockfish fillets to determine several of the possibilities of such a treatment. In one such test about fifteen pounds of skinned rockfish fillets were passed through the skinning machine a second time with the depth of cut adjusted to about 1/4 inch. This resulted in two fillets, one 1/4-inch thick and containing all of the dark fatty layer of flesh, and the residue fillet 3/8 to 3/4— inch in thickness and of a light color. The two types of fillets were cooked separately and examined by a tasting panel of 13 tasters. A definite difference in flavor was noted by all of the tasters, but no consistent preférence was noted for either of the two cuts. Some tasters preferred the portion containing the dark fatty flesh, some the light portion, while some expressed no preference, merely noting that a difference existed. The upper layer containing the dark fatty layer had a decided fish flavor, while the portion containing only light-colored flesh had a milder flavor. The latter fil-— lets were preferred by most of the panel from a viewpoint of color, since these fillets were of a uniformly white color. The other portion contained the red- dish brown streaks on one side. 1/ Wood, A, J,; Sigurdsson, G. J.; and Syer, W. J, - "The Surface Conception in Fish Spoilage,* Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 53-62 (1942). July 1949 .. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 5 In another preliminary test, one batch of split rockfish fillets was com- pared with a batch of unsplit fillets with particular reference to texture. The split rockfish fillets hada somewhat more tender texture. The difference was not great but was definite. OUTLET END OF SKINNING MACHINE. SKINNED FILLETS EMERGE AND DROP ON A METAL CONVEYER BELT WHICH CARRIES THE FILLETS TO THE INSPECTION, WEIGHING AND PACKING LINE. THE AIR HOSE SHOWN KEEPS EXCESS WATER OFF THE FILLETS BY AIR PRESSURE. ICED FILLETS In another series of tests ,2/ the subsequent keeping quality of iced fillets was determined on the split and unsplit product. No noticeable difference could be detected in the keeping quality of iced fillets whether split or not. Appar— ently when handled under commercial operating conditions, fresh contamination of the newly formed surfaces of the split fillets was equal to that of the original skinned fillets. More details of these tests will be described in a subsequent paper. STORAGE EXPERIMENTS ON FROZEN FILLETS In carrying out the storage tests, the fillets were cut at a commercial fil- leting plant and were then run through the skinning machine. They were wrapped in individual one~pound packages, using #300 MSAT cellophane. The individual pack-— ages were placed in five—pound waxed cartons and frozen at -20° F. incirculating air. The cartons were stored at 0° F. 2/Frank Piskur, Chemist, Branch of Commercial Fisheries, made these tests. 6 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 Fillets for a storage examination were thawed in air and then brined for four minutes in a 5 percent sodium chloride brine (to give uniform seasoning to all samples), The samples were baked in an oven at 350° F. for twenty minutes. In conducting the examination of the cooked fish, each sample was given a code so that no one participating in the examination knew the identity of any sample. = al A score sheet such as that EVALUATION GF QUALITY shown in Figure I was filled out by each person participating, and anywhere from five to ten persons took part in each storage test. At the conclusion of a test, the score sheets were tab-— ulated and average scores were calculated for color and for rancidity, and in some cases the texture of each sample was ex— 2-def. off amined. l-extremely |1-inedible (describe off flavors) Producti Coder Date: Taster: Note: Rate samples so as to indicate preferences, if any. Two series of rockfish were put up separately. The first SCORE SHEET USED !N EXAMINATION OF COOKED ROCKF ISH was a brief preliminary series in which the fillets were split into two layers: 1A 1/4-inch surface layer containing nearly all the dark fatty layer. 2, The remaining light-colored fillet, This series was given examinations after 36 and 42 weeks. Results of thefirst series are given in Table l. A second, more comprehensive series was run on two segregated species of rockfish. These were Sebastodes ruberrimus, commonly known as the red rock- Table 1 - Stora [Sample Examined Description @ Characteri stics of Frozen plit Rockfish Fillets (Series 1 Numerical Value Description Surface fillet after 36 weeks’ storage ...cccccccecececce Slightly tough Inner fillet after 36 weeks’ storage ...coccceccceccccs Wy My Surface fillet after 42 weeks’ storage Inner fillet after 42 weeks’ storage Commercial fillet purchased on @oceeev02eve0etove0 e22eGo2e8000000008 open market 280 20200 ces Coe fish, and on Sebastodes flavidus, popularly known as brown rockfish and also referred to as yellowtailed rockfish and sometimes as "black bass". Hach species was cut in three ways: 1. The regular whole, skinned fillet, 2, The skinned fillet with 0.1 inch of the flesh beneath the skin removed. 3. The skinned fillet with 0,2 inches of flesh beneath the skin removed, In the second series a measurement of the yield was made when the skin, the skin plus 0.1 inches of flesh, and the skin plus 0.2 inches of fleshwere removed from the whole fillet. Yields (based on the fillet with skin on) from brown rockfish were, respectively, 82.3 percent, 59.6 percent, and 43.4 July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW rf percent. Comparable yields for the larger fillets from red rockfish were 81.5 percent, 61.3 percent, and 51.8 percent, respectively. A summary of the results of examinations of series 2 after storage periods of 6, 14, 22, 34, and 55 weeks is given in Tables 2 and 3. In this series all samples had normal texture after storage up to 14 weeks. After 22 weeks, tex— ture varied from normal to slightly tough, and at 34 weeks and thereafter, all Samples were tough. DISCUSSION AND OBSERVATIONS There seemed to be a definite tendency for the red rockfish fillets to stand up somewhat better in cold storage than the brown ones. The color of red rock-— fish fillets was superior after 22 weeks' storage to that of the brown rockfish after 14 weeks. Both species were extremely discolored after 34 weeks, and at that time and thereafter there was no difference in color. The rancidity of the brown rockfish was as great after 14 weeks as that of the red rockfish after 22 weeks, After 34 weeks there was no difference in the uncut fillets of either species. It would appear that the red rockfish fillets, cut in the normal way, have a storage life somewhat better than 50 percent in excess of the brown rock— fish fillets. The samples which had a portion or all of the dark fatty flesh removed had far greater storage life than the uncut fillets. If a fillet is considered un— marketable when the rancidity rating reaches 3.0 (slightly rancid), then the un— cut brown rockfish fillets had a storage life of only about 14 weeks as compared with a storage life of 56 weeks for the brown rockfish fillets with 0.1 inches of surface flesh removed. Storage life with reference to rancidity development has thus been increased by a factor of four. An equal increase in storage life of the brown rockfish fillets with respect to discoloration is obtained if we con= sider 2.5 to be the numerical rating at which the fillets became unmarketable. Red rockfish fillets had an increase of storage life of at least two times (ccm— pared to the regular skinned fillet) when split or when a portion of the fatty layer was removed. The development of a tough, rubbery texture during storage may well be the factor limiting the storage life of split rockfish fillets. After 34 weeks, all Table 2 - Color of Frozen Rockfish Fillets Table 3 - Degree: of Rencidity of Frozen Rockfish Fillets Series 2 Brown Rockfish | ___—Red Rockfish Brown Rockfish Pecind Heericd | Dark Flesh Removed BS [1/10 inch] Le inch Dark Flesh Removed Se eae Dark Flesh senoradl | Weeks |Uncut 2 ROG prs na — inch |1/5 inch| 4. 4.6 . WwHewpr onda ond en twa a] Numerical color rating? 2 Qs original color Numsrical rancidi ty rating 1,0 = maximun discoloration) 1,0 = extremely rancid) Note: Color ratings are averages of from 5 to 10 Note: Rancidity ratings are averages of from 5 to 10 individual ratings. individual ratings. fillets exhibited a considerable amount of this toughness, although they were no tougher than a commercial frozen rockfish fillet purchased on the open market (Table 1). 8 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Volo 11, No. 7 It should be emphasized that differences in rancidity and in color were very striking and clear-cut between the split and unsplit fillets. After storage for Ssysianamongemngomn CLOSE-UP OF OUTLET END OF SK!NNING MACHINE WITHOUT AIR HOSE. any length of time there was unanimous agreement by the tasting panel in favor of the split or cut fillets. It is, of course, obvious that the 0.1 or 0.2 inches of skin side flesh re— moved in Series 2 could not be discarded in any commercial operation. The purpose of this series was to determine how much flesh must be cut away to give maximum storage life. Results indicated that while very definite improvement was obtain- ed with removal of 0.1 inches, maximum improvement did not result until at least 0.2 inches or approximately half the rockfish fillet was removed. Some individual variation was noted, since in the larger and thicker fillets the fatty layer ex-— tended deeper than that of smaller fillets. It is suggested that it would be possible to split rockfish fillets into two segments and to market the top (skin) side on the fresh market without freez— ing it, or if frozen, to market such fillets where rapid turnover is assured and where the maximum time in cold storage will never exceed three months. The deeper cut would then have a much longer storage life, certainly of at least six months duration, limited mainly by loss in texture. If texture is not of great impor-— tance, then a storage life of up to one year could be anticipated. July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 9 CHICAGO RECEIPTS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS, 1948 By C. M. Reardon** INTRODUCTION The total 1948 receipts of fresh and frozen fishery products in the Chicago wholesale fish market was the highest on record, surpassing the previous record in 1947 by three percent. Receipts in 1948 amounted to 97,311,000 pounds, compared to 94,650,000 pounds in 1947. The gain was in the salt-water fish and shellfish arrivals, an increase of 5 percent and 6 percent over 1947, respectively. Fresh- water fish receipts in 1948 were less than one-half of 1 percent greater than in 1947 (Figure 1). SOURCES OF RECEIPTS For the first time in recent years Massachusetts, with an increase of 40 percent over 1947, surpassed British Columbia as Chicago's leading source of fisherv products. The 16,223,000 pounds : received from Massachusetts com- FIG.I-VOLUME OF FISHERY PRODUCTS RECEIPTS AT CHICAGO, 1939-1948 prised 17 percent of tne total Chicago receipts. SHELLFISH The second important source was British Columbia with 13,209,000 pounds, or 14 percent, but as usual, included fish caught by United States fishermenand shipped through Canada to the United States in bond. United States-caught fish shipped from British Columbia in bond made up 99 percent of the total receipts from that Province. MILLIONS OF POUNDS Wisconsin ranked third in importance, accounting for 10 per- cent of the total receipts, but it was first among the States ship- ping fresh-water fish. This State oi — fe be was followed closely by Michigan 19391940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1946 (9 percent). States contribut- . ing 3 million pounds or more to the total receipts were, in the order of their importance: Texas, Louisiana, Washington, and Iowa. In addition to British Co- lumbia, other Canadian provinces that shipped important quantities were: Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Alberta. There was also an unindentifiable amount of fish which originated in Alaska but was shipped to Chicago from Washington; therefore, Alaska is not listed as a source. Fishery Marketing Specialist, In Charge, Fishery Market News Service Office, Branch of Commercial Fisheries,Chic®go, Illinois. . 10 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 Fish and shellfish shipments from domestic sources, including American-caught fish shipped via British Columbia, accounted for 80 percent, or 77,898,000 pounds, of the total Chicago receipts. Direct imports into Chicago accounted for 20 per- cent, or 19,413,000 pounds. Certain imports, such as, shrimp from Mexico, spiny lobster tails, and frozen fillets from Iceland and Norway have been credited to the State from which the shipment originated in the United States. Attempting to identify the country of origin for some of the imported fishery products after they reach Chicago would be a time-consuming task. RECEIPTS BY SPECIES With each species divided into classifications of fresh, frozen, fillets, steaks, etc., the number of varieties of fishery products received at Chicago totaled 146, divided into 48 fresh-water, 70 salt-water, and 28 shellfish and related aquatic varieties. { FIG.2— CHICAGO RECEIPTS OF LEADING BI ; FRESH—WATER VARIETIES, 1939—1948 Of ‘the fresheemres == WHITEFISH. PRES LAG. onan tine miata an species received, white- Fire aT Ree EST fish was the most import- ant, followed by lake trout and yellow pike (Figure 2). These three accounted for 43 percent of the fresh-water total of 41,654,000 pounds. Following these were carp, chubs, buffalofish and yellow perch. Halibut receipts led all salt-water varieties, and exceeded the former highest total (1947) by a s | little over 1 percent; yELLO™ seal rosefish fillets were next followed by cod and salmon (all species). These four varieties accounted for 75 percent of the salt- water total of 37,512,000 ‘pounds (Figure 3). MILLIONS OF POUNDS > remit ss ~.. io) 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1946 1946 1947 1948 Shrimp receipts accounted for 60 percent of the shellfish arrivals. This was slightly higher than the former highest total in 1947. Oysters (shell and shucked), spiny lobster tails, and scallops followed shrimp in importance. There were also substantial arrivals of lobsters, clams, and squid. METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION During 1948, motor trucks handled 34 percent, or 32,560,000 pounds of Chicago's 1948 fishery receipts, 14 percent more than in 1947. Beginning shortly after the war, when more equipment and fuel became available-for civilian use, truck trans- portation of fishery products made steady gains. Flexibility in delivering LCL shipments and the time saved on short hauls are the two most important features of motor transportation (Figure 4). July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 11 Railway express transported 31 percent, or 30,648,000 pounds, a decline of 5 percent compared with 1947. Rail freight handled 35 percent, or 34,103,000 pounds, a gain of less than one-half of one percent compared with 1947. A larger gain was not made in rail freight shipments because of the inroads made by motor FIG.3 — GHICAGO RECEIPTS OF LEADING trucks inthe transporta- SALT—WATER VARIETIES, 1939—1948 tion of frozen salt-water HALIBUT, FRESH AND FROZEN — includes fillets 3 —— — ROSEFISH FILLETS, FROZEN fish from the East Coast.Most —"—""7 SALMON, ALL SPECIES, FRESH AND FROZEN West Coast shipments continue to be made by rail freight due to the long hauls, and have not yet been affected by the encroachment of motor transportation. The bulk of the domestic receipts was handled by motor truck while the major portion of the imports was moved by rail freight. Some arrivals of fishery products were received by air express, but the total was relatively un- important. MILLIONS OF POUNDS SEASONS Receipts of fishery products in 1948 reached their highest monthly pack during August, although June and September were not far behind. During 1947, receipts were the heaviest in October. The greatest quantity of fresh-water varieties was delivered in February SEED La 1946 with June second, and Sep- tember third. Contributing to the heavy February arrivals were, in the order of their importance: whitefish, saugers, yellow pike, buffalofish, carp, lake herring, and smelt. Salt-water arrivals were greatest during August, with June second, and September third. The chief reason for the heavy salt-water deliveries during August was the heavy receipts of frozen rosefish fillets from the East Coast. While arrivals of other varieties of frozen fillets were below normal during August, those for rosefish fillets (nearly 1,500,000 pounds) were the highest in the history of the Chicago wholesale market. Helibut was second in importance in August and with rosefish composed 59 per= cent of August's salt-water receipts. June was the month with the heaviest receipts of halibut (1,451,000 pounds). 12 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 Receipts of salmon (all species) reached a maximum in September, followed by November, August, and February. Shrimp arrivals reached their peak in December, followed by October, November, and June. MARKET CONDITIONS AND PRICES Market conditions during 1948 proceeded much along the same lines as in 1947. There were no outstanding developments. Increased arrivals of fishery products did not affect the market as definitely as in 1947 or in the preceding three years, receipts were not curtailed by any labor and transpor— tation difficulties, and ship— ments arrived steadily and more uniformly. Transporta- tion differences on the West Coast did not affect frozen halibut arrivals as most ship~ ments originated in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, which was undisturbed by the labor dispute in progress during the greater part of the halibut season. 1939-1948 FIG.4¢— GHICAGO RECEIPTS BY METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION, FREIGHT TRUCK EXPRESS ESE Prices on most varieties fluctuated far less than in 1947. Both buying and sell- ing were more settled inthe two preceding years. Halibut and salmon prices remained steady all yearas cold— storage holdings of these varieties declined normally, and at a rate which in- dicates that the holdings will be light by the time the season opens in 1949. Large halibut holdings late in 1947 caused a slump in prices seriously affecting local dealers who were forced to move their stocks at a loss. =) =a EACH EQUALS 10 MILLION POUNDS a) Shrimp prices were steadier than at any time since the lifting of OPA controls, and never approached the high prices so evident during the two preceding years, A growing demand for Mexican shrimp on the local market was noted during 1948. Demand for fishery products did not increase noticeably during the Lenten Season and the Jewish holidays. For the third successive year the dealers, in anticipation of these holidays, made larger purchases, but they were unable to move all of their supplies. Prices, which usually followed an upward trend during these periods, declined on most items due to the heavy supplies and a dull market. LEADING VARIETIES AND MARKET FORMS Whitefish, the most important fresh-water item on the Chicago wholesale market, totaled 8,694,000 pounds, with 13 percent shipped frozen. Most of the whitefish were dressed, and only a small amount (chiefiy from Lake Erie) arrived round at certain times of the season. Some of the frozen receipts were filleted. Of the states shipping fresh whitefish, Wisconsin led with 28 percent and Michigan ranked July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 13 second with 27 percent. Arrivals from other states were comparatively unimportant. Of the Canadian provinces, Alberta led with 14; followed by Manitoba, 7 percent; and Ontario, 3 percent. Manitoba accounted for 80 percent of the frozen whitefish. Receipts of lake trout were second in importance among fresh-water varieties, with 14 percent shipped frozen. Michigan led with 40 percent, followed by Wiscon- sin with 24 percent. Arrivals from other states were comparatively unimportant. Among the Canadian sources, fresh lake trout shipments from Manitoba contributed 7 percent, and Alberta only 5 percent of the total. Yellow pike receipts, the third most important fresh-water variety, totaled 4,010,000 pounds, with 10 percent ship- ped frozen. Minnesota shipped 15 percent of the fresh yellow pike; Ohio, 13 per- cent and Michigan, 12 percent; while Mani- toba led all sources with 42 percent. The latter was also the source of 78 percent of the frozen receipts of this svecies. VIEW OF CHICAGO'S SKYLINE. Chub arrivals amounted to 3,025,000 pounds—a new high, according to available data. Nearly all chubs are utilized for smoking, and commanded the most consistent price in the past five years. Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin shipped 93 percent of the chubs with Indiana and Minnesota the balance. Receipts of yellow perch amounted to 2,603,000 pounds, with less than one percent frozen. Ohio was first with 28 percent, followed by Michigan, 22 percent; Minnesota, 12 percent; Manitoba, 11 percent; and Illinois, 8 percent. Arrivals of lake herring totaled 2,263,000 pounds, of which 70,000 pounds (from Wisconsin) arrived frozen. Wisconsin led with 48 percent of the shipments; Minnesota was second, 29 percent; followed by Michigan, 21 percent. Most of the bluefin herring received in Chicago were from Minnesota. Nearly all herring arrived dressed and were sold freshas there is little demand for salted or smoked fresh-water herring. Some of the herring were smoked as "bay chubs", Sauger receipts totaled 1,064,000 pounds, and 41 per-— cent were received frozen in the round and as frozen fil- lets. Manitoba accounted for --=-- 83 percent of all shipments. Saugers were usually sold _ round, with a few small fish <=. dressed or filleted. CHICAGO'S WHOLESALE FISH MARKET (CORNER GF FULTON AND UNION STREETS). ; For the fourth consecu- tive year smelt arrivals have shown a substantial increase. 14 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 In 1948, the smelt receipts totaled 921,000 pounds (5 percent frozen), the highest amount received in the Chicago market since 1943. Wisconsin, the leading source of supply, shipped and accounted for 69 percent of the receipts, while Michigan, the only other State of importance, shipped 30 percent. Among rough fish, carp led with 3,838,000 pounds, mainly coming from Iowa (40 percent), Wisconsin (33 percent), and Illinois (17 percent). They were nearly always marketed round, although a very small amount was fleeced for special orders. Prices remained low throughout the year, except during the Jewish holidays, but prices during the latter periods did not approximate the prices paid during the past few years. Receipts of buffalofish, the second important variety among the rough fish, totaled 2,867,000 pounds. The chief sources of buffalofish in this country were Iowa, Wisconsin, andIllinois, which accounted for 79 percent of the total. Saskatchwan FIG. 5 — CHICAGO RECEIPTS OF SHRIMP, 1939—1948 wasiithe joniy| canadianweayides BROEeN aR that shipped any amount of pe buffalofish, and accounted for another 15 percent. Prices on buffalofish were consis— tently high all during the yearo ite) i E ee Substantial deliveries | : of buffalofish and carpwere, | | for the most part, due to planned fishing by the three State Conservation Departments of Illinois, Iowa, and Wis-— consin.e MILLIONS OF POUNDS Sheepshead receipts to- taled 1,967,000 pounds, with a negligible amount shipped frozen. lIowa shipped 28 per— cent of this; Michigan was second, with 26 percent; and followed by Wisconsin and Ohio, J Bt : Li a 20 percent each. Iowa's 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 receipts consisted mostly of the soft-meated variety. Due to the demand for it, soft-meated sheepshead will usually sell at from two to three times theprice of the hard-meated fish. Nearly all Ohio sheepshead are hard-meated, while Illinois and Wisconsin ship both kinds,with the hard-meated fish predominating. All sheeps~ head are marketed round. Arrivals of suckers (all fresh), totaled 1,178,000 pounds. Wisconsin and ‘Michigan shipped 84 percent of the suckers. Suckers are usually sold dressed, while those sold round are called "mullet" on the Chicago market. While relatively unimportant among the items received at the Chicago wholesale market, the continued increase of blue pike arrivals in the past three years should July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 15 not be overlooked. Of very minor importance in 1946 when only 120,000 pounds were received, the 1948 arrivals have risen to 661,000 pounds. This total, however, is far below the 1944 receipts of 2,237,000 pounds. RECEIPTS OF FROZEN FISHERY PRODUCTS CONTINUE TO INCREASE Probably the greatest development in Chicago's receipts of fishery products has been the annual increase in frozen varieties, and an almost corresponding decrease in fresh varieties. Arrivals of frozen shrimp amounted to 9,585,000 pounds compared with 1,151,000 pounds of fresh shrimp. In 1947, frozen shrimp receipts amounted to 8,330,000 pounds and fresh shrimp totaled 2,269,000 pounds. This shows frozen shrimp increasing in almost direct ratio to the decrease in fresh shrimp arrivals. During the years 1939 through 1943, frozen shrimp formed approximately 25 percent of the total shrimp arrivals; were about equally divided in 1944; but after 1944, frozen shrimp arrivals increased rapidly and during 1948 composed 89 percent of the total shrimp receipts. MINNESOTA CREWS REMOVE ROUGH FISH FROM THE STATE'S LAKES UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE DE- PARTMENT OF CONSERVATION. What is true of shrimpis also true of halibut to a lesser degree. From 19435 when 58 percent of the halibut receipts arrived fresh, frozen receipts have gained steadily and in 1948 made up 92 percent of the total halibut arrivals. 16 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 Although the total was not impressive, there was an increased amount of frozen halibut arriving as fillets and steaks during 1948. This method of handling part of the catch is comparatively new, with the processing being done at the initial landing voint. Dealers are unanimous in declaring fresh halibut will never again be an important factor in this market. Continuing the trend which started to take shape in 1945, frozen receipts of other species, such as, cod, haddock, rosefish fillets, and whiting, have almost totally displaced the fresh onthe Chicago market. In 1948, fresh receipts of these species were negli- gible, and consisted almost entirely of fresh fillets. The year 1948 also saw the appearance of more fishery items in small or consumer-size packages. Some of these were 12-— : . 4 ounce, some 10-ounce, but : sf the bulk was one—pound ee packages. All of these BOILING NETS. TO REMOVE SLIME AT NAUBINWAY, MICH. packages were designed to provide a convenient por-— tion for family use. Frozen fillets, shrimp, scallops, spiny lobster tails, and crab meat were the leading items merchandized in consumer-size packages in this area. However, frozen salmon loaf, shrimp Creole, fish and chips, and others were also of some importance. The concerted movement to increase the attractiveness of the packages, which started in 1946, progressed to a point in 1948where fishery products were appearing in more stores and in deep-freeze cabinets. Alongside fruits and vegetables, the attractive packages were convenient, moderate in price, and contained instructions for cooking on the wrapper. This method of merchandising is definitely overcoming the average housewife's re- ; : luctance to make use of fishery products. There was a_ growing tendency among some of the local dealers to cover some distant areas with refrig- erated trucks, basing at important points in their territory and carrying a full line of frozen and processed fishery products, permitting instant deliver— ; criss to the ammll stores ViSsIMNETS. AF ROGErS CLInH Mit Nee onthe route. Asa definite VESSEL. weekly schedule is maintain— ed, in some cases biweekly, this method of merchandising allows the retailer to inspect the purchases before buying, and allows limited purchasing to fit estimated needs. July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 17 Be ¥ RESEARCH yy 'N 4 Se. RVICE LABORATORIES May 1949 Boston, Mass. The initial studies on freezing fish at sea have been terminated with the ex— amination of fillets of fish frozen at sea and the control samples which have been stored for seven months. The fillets of fish frozen at sea were found to be of better general quality than the fillets of fish iced at sea, although both sets of samples would be acceptable commercially. The specifications for a laboratory freezer to aid in the continuation of freezing studies have been completed, and the process for purchasing part of the equipment during the current fiscal year has started. Cod were procured from a gill-net fisherman for tests on freezing, thawing, filleting, and refreezing the fillets. Also, the fillets from gill—net cod were compared with fillets from trawler—caught fish to determine differences in salt content. The salt content of the unbrined fillets showed the fillets from the frozen fish to have almost twice the amount of salt as the fillets from the iced fish. College Park, Md. Data from rat feeding tests indicate that baked haddock, broiled mackerel and roast beef were evacuated from the stomach at about the same rate. The greater amount of fat in the mackerel did not seem to have any influence on slowing down the time of evacuation. Three to five hours seemed to be needed for stomach evac— uation. A single experiment with baked haddock indicated that the method which was developed quantitatively accounted for the emanations when radioactive phos— phorus was used as a physical marker. The radioactive phosphorus, however, passed through the digestive organs at a greater rate than the food, so it was not a sat-— isfactory marker under the conditions of the experiment. Ketchikan, Alaska Air shipments of samples of Alaska abalone were made to an interested Cali- fornia concern. Tests on quality and marketability of this species are to bemade. Seattle, Wash. Control and refrozen fillets of three flounder species were examined after a total storage period of 11 months at 0° F. The maximum storage life at O F. for yellowfin and rock sole fillets is approximately 11 to 12 months, judged on the basis of commercial acceptability. Rancidification of the surface fatty flesh ap— peared to be the limiting factor in the storage life of lemon sole fillets. Lemon sole should be heavily glazed for storage in order to minimize development of in- Cipient rancidity in the fatty flesh before the fish are thawed, _filleted and 18 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 refrozen. The maximum storage life of these fillets at 0° F. is approximately 8-9 months. The 1l-month examination has confirmed the conclusions drawn from previous ones that refreezing, in itself, does not result in significant changes of the color, texture, or flavor of the refrozen fish. kk In the project on development of improved analytical methods for extraction of oil and vitamin A from fish livers, some tests indicated that during the pro-— longed solvent extraction and other manipulation considerable decomposition of the oil may take place. Thus, in one instance, free fatty acid of over 50 percent was present in the final oil after extraction and drying, and the iodine number was lower than would have been the case with a fresh oil. KKK Assay of a sample of brook lampreys (whole) showed only 0.8 percent oil pre- sent and less vitamin A than could be detected by spectrophotometric methods. 2 cups flaked crab meat 2 tablespoons onion, chopped 1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing 2 hard cooked eggs, diced 1 cup celery, diced 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sweet pickle, chopped 1/8 teaspoon pepper Lettuce Remove any shell or cartilage from the crab meat, being careful not to break the crab into too small pieces. Combine all ingredients and serve in lettuce cups. Garnish with tomato wedges. Serves 6. Shrimp, lobster or flaked fish may be used in the above recipe. July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 19 a = ee Additions to the Fleet of US. Fishing Vessels A total of 85 vessels of 5 net tons and over received their first documents as fishing craft during April 1949-——37 less than in April 1948, according to the Bureau of Customs of the Treasury Department. Alaska led with 24 vessels, fol- lowed by Washington with 15, and Texas with 8. During the first four months of 1949, a total of 260 vessels were documented, compared with 293 during the same period in 1948. Vessels Obtaining Their First Documents as Fishing Craft, April = a2 Section New England ecocecccecerscosoecex0v0e Middle Atlantic Seerseeerercoesoecces 40 Chesapeaka DeeCvevseeovevvecrerces 59 South Atlantic and Gulf ..........0- 541 Pacific Coast OO a) 347 Great Lakes ....cccccoccccceccsccccce 1 Alles A Watelelotelcieieicisicicioicieicicjelcicielsialvie\siclere Hawaii @SCGCeoeeeecSesoGeoseeoGeeeeeseG00 Total © 00000 ecco ecceepeaeeece® Note: Vessels have been assigned to the various sections on the basis of their home port. ECA Procurement Authorizations for Fishery Products During June 1949, the Economic Cooperation Administration announced author izations totaling $300,000 for the purchase of fishery products forECA countries, compared with $12,704,000 during May. The amount authorized during June was the smallest since the beginning of the ECA program in April 1948. During June, ECA cancelled an authorization for $450,000 for the purchase of canned fish from the U. S. and Possessions for shipment to Ireland; and an author— ization for $100,000 for the purchase of canned fish fromthe U. S. and Possessions for shipment to Belgium—Luxembourg. An authorization of $97,000 for freight was added to a $350,000 authorization for the purchase of canned fish from the J. S. and Possessions for shipment to Italy. At the beginning of the ECA program in April 1948, it was estimated that the value of shipments of edible fishery products from the United States to the 16 participating ECA countries would total $51,800,000 for the 15-month period (Aprill, 1948-June 30, 1949). A total of $8,646,800 was authorized through June 30, 1949, 20 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vole 11, No. 7 for purchases of fishery products in the U. S. and Possessions. Of this amount, $6,710,800 was for the purchase of canned fish, and the balance was for fish and whale oils and Vitamin A (for stock feed). Thus, the value of edible fishery products was only 13 percent of the estimated total. CA Procurement Ar Authorizations for _Fishe ery Products, June 1949 1949 Country of of fe aay Recipient — Origin Agen Country US_& Possessions [Greece _—_—~ireece SS aT ECA Procurement Authorizations one Filshe Eeoiuetee korilll 1 1948-June 30, 1949 U.S. & Possessions |United Kingdon, & Canada Ireland, Belgium | Ireland, Belgium- Luxe mbourg Luxembourg 5 Greece, & Italy | Greece, & Italy Fish, salted Newf. & Canada Italy & = W.Indiegltaly & Fr.W.Indies | 5,179,000 ; Canate, Iceland, Denmark, Austria, (Denmark, Austria ence Coe & Angola _| & U,S.Dept.Army & Bizonie | 3,957,361 13,957, 800 Fish, canned Oil, herring [Iceland «US. Dept. Arm 1,694,000 "| seal esfoendland E00 Latin America ex- " , shark liver capt qrentine & France France 250 ,000 Brazi U.S. & Po io pace SOs ot. Arm ag [Bi & Bees Fg ee 1 ae mine APES 0 ) ee Babe pt. Arm: 100,000 Netherlands, relive Pastels France, stria, Bisme & & = 166 ie Nore 4 U.S. U.S, Dept, Army Fr. Zon of Ge 7,160,150 ° Vit. A (Co. jal gay (ee a eed Grand Total Authorized © 28 SOS SG OSAHOCGZSBHHSHHOSHHHHLFHOSCHSOBSFFORBOOSHOSSLOSOCTOSGOOSe 609 11 Where the recipient country is shown as the procuring agency, the government of the partic- pating country or its authorized agents or importers do the purchasing, On June 14, the ECA announced that it was issuing "commodity determinations" to Marshall Plan countries to indicate the purchase program the agency intends to approve when additional funds are appropriated by Congress. The determinations tell the countries the amounts expected to be authorized for the purchase of cer-— tain commodities when funds become available, and permits the foreign governments to continue planning and procurement on a forward basis, but does not obligate ECA to finance purchases which are made, It also lets U. S. exporters know what they can get ready to offer. Problems of markets, trade, prices and distribution are taking the place of those of production, allocation and rationing in European countries, according to a report on the recovery program issued by ECA on June 30. ai Experimental Fishing in Alaskan Waters by the Service The first experimental fishing of the present season in Alaska waters by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service started on June 24, The Service concluded a contract with the owners of the vessel Deep Sea to conduct experimental fishing in Bering Sea. A Service staff of four (2 fishery engineers, 1 technologist, and 1 biologist) accompanied the vessel and directed its exploratory activities. This work was carried out to continue the explorations begun last year by the vessel Washington. July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 21 The purpose of the operation is to locate new fishing areas which are suf— ficiently populated to sustain a commercial fishing operation. A major part of the work will be directed toward locating king crab and devising means of making profitable catches. Fishing operations started in the St. Matthews Island area on June 24, thence northward to St. Lawrence Island, and continued to Nome, Norton Sound, and south— ward on the Alaska mainland side of Bering Sea. The vessel was operated in the regular commercial manner by its usual crew. The Service personnel obtained a great amount of valuable information concerning migrations and dispersal of fish, trawling conditions, and ocean temperatures. Cod and flatfish of fine quality and size were located. While indications were encouraging, further work will be necessary to ascertain the extent of this resource. King crab of the platypus species were located in the northern area but the quantity taken was small and the size considerably smaller than the king crab found in the southern area of the Bering Sea. Federal Purchases of Fishery Products DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, April 1949: During April 1949, the Army Quartermaster Corps purchased 1,386,475 pounds (valued at $487,851) of fresh and frozen fishery products for the U. S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force for military feeding compared with 1,588,166 pounds (valued, $510,200) for March 1949, and 1,327,665 pounds (valued, $457,540) for April 1948. Purchases for the first four months in 1949 totaled 5,340,704 pounds (valued, $1,820,823), compared with 5,253,060 pounds (valued, $1,984,434) for the corresponding period the previous year. Fisheries of Certain Pacific Islands GUAM: Every encouragement is given to the Guamanians to develop their fishing Organization. To date, Guamanians have not realized the commercial potentialities of the local waters. Their fishing is confined to subsistence requirements and is conducted almost entirely within the coral. reefs which fringe the island. Since the war a renewed interest has been shown in the fishing industry and lisenses (20 issued during 1949) to operate fishweirs have shown a marked increase since the secession of military activities connected with immediate postwar reha— bilitation and reclamation. Reconditioning of fishing boats damaged by the war has begun and it is felt that very shortly the fishing industry will be able to satisfy the demands of the local market. During the first three months of 1948, 49,033 pounds of fish, 2,500 pounds of shellfish, and 2,700 pounds of turtles were produced. Scientific experimentation has been carried on to give local aid and assist— ance to those Guamanians who are endeavoring to reestablish the fishing industry. 22 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vole 11, No. 7 The U.SoS. Oregon, an exploratory fishing craft, arrived in Guam in 1948 to survey the entire reef and adjacent ocean area and to report live bait conditions, fish feeding grounds and other information, including suggestions as to improved methods of lagoon and deep-sea fishing. U. S» TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: During the Japanese regime, an important commercial fishing industry was developed in the Territory but it was con- ducted entirely by non-indigenous personnel, according to the 1949 Annual Report for SS ee Oe The production techniques are not known to the natives who have been content to use hand lines, spears and nets inside lagoons or close ashore. Fishing of this kind has yielded no more than a fraction of the local subsistenceneeds. With the encouragement and assistance of the Administration, commercial fishing has been organized at several points which has not only augmented the local food supply but returned in 1948 a small exportable surplus of dried fish (4.8 metric tons) and trepang. Recently the administration has financed the purchase of sampans, ranging in size from 3-1/2 to 19 tons, completely equipped for fishing. It is expected that this type of equipment will stimulate further interest. Currently local catches are sold directly to consumers when the boat reaches the beach or are prepared for sun drying. Neither freezers nor canneries are now available but such installations are in prospect experimentally. Reliable data are not available on either production or consumption. However, statistics on food imports in 1948 for the Territory, less the Northern Marianas District (i.e. for all except 12 percent of the indigenous population), include 29 metric tons of canned fish. Insofar as foreign trade is concerned, it is planned to develop, in addition to other commodities, an exportable surplus of dried, canned, and frozen fishery products. AMERICAN SAMOA: Local fishing consists of subsistence fishing on reef shelves with occasional deep water fishing for bonito and shark. A fish cannery has re— cently been built in this area and is expected to begin operation approximately June 1, 1949, according to the 1949 Annual Report for American Samoa to FAQ. No information is available on production methods. It is expected that the fish (tuna and bonito) will be brought in by fishing boats operating out of Fiji. New jobs have been created in the fitting out of a fish cannery and additional jobs will be provided upon the opening of this operation. No data are available on fish caught. by individuals for home consumption. However, statistics on canned fish indicate a pack of 1,361 metric tons, imports of 75 tons, and the consumption of 90 tons during 1948. Prospective exports of 1,346 metric tons are visualized. Fishery Biology Notes ALBATROSS III - CRUISE NO. 23: The North Atlantic Fishery Investigations, of the Branch of Fishery Biology, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, reports that from June 23 to June 29 (Cruise No. 23) the research vessel, Albatross III, occupied stations on Georges and Browns Banks in 30 to 50 fathoms of water where small haddock are now abundant. July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 23 Studies were continued to determine how many of the haddock which escape througi: the savings cod end actually survive. The savings cod end used has 4 5/8~inch stretched mesh. A bag of fine mesh was placed outside of this to capture the haddock which passed through the mesh, and these were tagged as well as those which did not pass through. Survival of the two groups will be compared by recording the number of tags returned by fishermen and fish processors. In addition, haddock were tagged on these Banks for the purpose of determining migrations. SEA LAMPREY IN INDIANA STREAMS: The Service's Section of Inland Fisheries reports that the sea lamprey is continuing its spread in the Great Lakes. A con— siderable number has now invaded Indiana streams. A report was received last year of the invasion of a spawning individual in one of these streams; specimens were not taken until this spring. The first one was taken April 6 in Trail Creek near Michigan City. In May several specimens were taken from the Little Calumet River, which is connected with the Mississippi River drainage. The lampreys en— tered the Calumet River via Burns Ditch connecting this river with Lake Michigan. Reports indicate that a sizeable run entered the Little Calumet in late May. SOUTH PACIFIC FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS OCCUPIES ADDITIONAL STATIONS: The Ser~ vice's South Pacific Fishery Investigations, Stanford, California, reports that the research vessel Black Douglas left San Francisco on May 31 and in the next two weeks occupied 40 stations in the area between Cape Mendocino to the Colum— bia River and extending 400 miles offshore. The work included net hauls for zoo- plankton (including sardine eggs and larvae), phytoplankton collections, and ob— servations on the temperature, salinity, etc., of the sea water. Halibut Season on West Coast Closed | The closing of the halibut season in Areas 1A 3, and 4 at 12 midnight, July 12, 1949, was announced on June 17, 1949, by the International Fisheries Commission. This will terminate all halibut fishing on the Pacific Coast of Canada and the United States, including Alaska, except for incidental halibut catches. Permits for the retention and landing of halibut caught incidentally to fishing for other species with set lines in any area will become invalid at 12 midnight, November 15, 1949, when the closed season for all halibut fishing starts. This year's closing date was only one day later than the 1948 date, The1l949 halibut season was 73 days long, compared with 72 days in 1948 and 109 days in 1947 © Areas 1B and 2 were closed at midnight June 3, 1949 (see Commercial Fisher— ies Review, June 1949, page 25). Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations Continues Tuna Research The Section of Biology and Oceanography of the Pacific Oceanic Fishery In- vestigations, stationed at Honolulu, continued during May to gather data to de— 24 COMMERCTAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 termine the efficiency of vessel and gear operation and the length-weight fre— quencies of tuna and marlin species landed by local sampans. The species com— position of fish landed during the month has shown a slight change, as indicat— ed by the increased numbers of albacore and yellowfin tunas entering the catches. However, big-eyed tuna and marlins form the bulk of the species landed by the long—line vessels. Morphometric measurements on the long—line catches landed at the local Hono— lulu markets were continued and arrangements were made with the tuna packing firm in this area for measurements to be taken at the canning plant during cutting op-— erations. The skipjack fishing improved immensely during May. Fishing vessels are now able to deliver regular loads and the commercial cannery in Honolulu is in operation. Three tons comprised the largest one-day catch. The vessels caught bait, fished and discharged the catch within a 24-hour period. While thereis an admixture of yellowfin and big-—eyed tuna, the bulk of the catch is skipjack. The very small fish that were landed earlier in the year have disappeared; fish land— ed during the month weighed from 15 to 25 pounds. In early May, the local tuna industry was crippled by a severe bait shortage. Two fishery biologists during the month made a 4—day trip aboard the U. S. Coast Guard vessel Iroquois to French Frigate Shoals (about 350 miles west of the main Hawaiian Islands). Their purpose was to determine whether the area could serve as a source of live bait for tuna clippers operating throughout the mid— Pacific area, and they reached a favorable conclusion. However, frequent and extended observations would have to be carried on at various intervals over the entire area in order to arrive at definite ccnclusions. If it could be shown that bait fishes occur in numbers sufficient to provide an adequate supply of bait for intensive live-bait fishing operations, alive-bait fishery could easily be established and maintained on one of the islands. This practicehas met with favorable success in Japan and in certain areas in the Philippine Islands. ee Trust Territory Research Program Includes Sponges and Poisonous Fish Among six United States scientists en route to Pacific areas,to continue a research program designed to supply basic scientific data required in the adminis— tration of islands of the United States Trust’ Territory ofthe Pacific, is a pro- fessor of zoology from the University of Hawaii, who will conduct a sponge survey of several island areas, according to a June 22 news release from the National Military Establishment. His study is being madetoassist in the possible develop— ment of this resource for the economic benefit of the inhabitants of the Trust Territory. He will survey certain islands of the Marshalls and Caroline Islands. Also, a member of the American Museum of Natural History, whose research in the Palaus will supply data to assist in the study of poisonous-fish, will study the classification, distribution, ecology, natural history and embryology of plectog— nath fish. Operations will be based on Koror. The new research program, (Scientific Investigations in Micronesia), is ad- ministered by the Pacific Science Board of the National Research Council, and largely supported by the Office of Naval Research. July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 25 Virginia Menhaden Industry Uses Plane to Spot Fish An attempt to locate schools of menhaden by plane started on the last Monday in May, the legal opening date for purse netting in Virginia waters, according to a June 15 report from the Service's Marketing Specialist at Weems, Va. The plane spots the fish and notifies ships by radiotelephone. The pilot, who usually flies about 5 hours a day, is paid only for actual flying time, with no bonus provisions for locating the fish. It is estimated that he is able to discern schools 25 feet beneath the surface. Five out of the six Virginia menhaden firms are participating. There is a plane locating menhaden in the North Carolina area and others are reported to bein use northof Virginia. Results to date are said to be encouraging, although it is too soon to give an adequate appraisal of the experiment. => ‘= U.S. Pack of Canned Alewives The 1948 pack of canned alewives amounted to 123,134 standard cases, valued at $639,356 to the canner—a decline of 12 percent in volume and 18 percent in value compared with the previous year. Although the pack was the smallest since 1943, it was much greater than for any year prior to 1943. = yland SOeeeeSeSeFesceosseessel®sresSoeere25S5G2000808 PU arrea Nd Wh alsiinrs eyare: sivictete'sie;ci sisicle e{sXersia\evsiore e's eisio's eieieleioteiciare “S58 @cccscecsecccecccccce eccoceo Note: "Standard cases” represent the vartouscniaed aaa converted to the equivalent of 45 cans of 15 ounces each, Practically the entire pack was canned in 15-ounee cans, The entire 1948 pack of canned alewives was canned in 7 plants in Maryland and 12 plants in Virginia. In the previous year these fish were also packed in Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Florida. fable 2 - Pack of Canned Alewives, 1939 = 1948 (Quantity and Value to the Canners Year ; | Standard Cases Value | 1946 Seco cero eases ssossTee LEH SOPOreeroresreseseoe sees 13,1 = sae Mrotelavetereteleloiielaleiriniclalnisleicle/-lel- sintatelolaietoininiel sloeleistatevctote 1945 cccrsccrecccerccrencscccecsceccoscvecssscssons ° 1944 @eeceerscartcose eccecerecorerecose secrecece “oeesecce 1943 @evesesseesrcccsccn eoceococece @reeceresceseoececn e 1942 Poecesese Oost oreesserse So Goescrosecre20F002009202008 UAL cc ccccerssccccrcccccccsccecsceccescscccsescrece 1 Secveeevessessoreecesecrrere0sre0s @cvocecce @eeose ee 1939 @ 2 cece F8coece sete eeee es o eocceecve ceeesss cece coe The average price per case at the canners! level rose from a low of $2.94 in 1940 to $5.83 in 1944, dropped slightly to $5.75 in 1945, and then rose in 1946 to a high of $6.08 per standard case. In 1947 it dropped to $5.57 and in 1948 dropped even lower to $5.19 per standard case. The shortage of protein foods accounted for the unusually heavy pack and the high price in 1946. 26 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 U.S. Pack of Canned Groundfish Flakes, 1948 The 1948 pack of canned groundfish flakes amounted to 35,014 standard cases, valued at #548 ,113 to the packers. This was an increase of 89 percent in volume and 80 percent in value compared with 1947. Although the pack was larger than in the previous year, it was only about 20 percent as large as either the 1945 or 1946 production which amounted to over 150,000 cases. Groundfish flakes were can-— ned in 4 plants in Maine and 4 in Massachusetts. nee S®FSHSCLCOALTHOFLC HLH BTLLOAEHHOKDESSETEDHFOCHLOHSHSOLOOBED Massachusetts POSre Ce OL LOL Le SoC Oe OSOEO OED OS CHE L2008 OO The average price per case at the canners' level rose from a low of $8.70 in 1939 to $14.94 per standard case in 1943. In 1944, the price dropped to $14.18 and rose again in 1945 to $14.84. In 1946, another decline took place to $13.88 and in 1947 reached a peak of $16.37. However, the price dropped again in 1948 to $15.65 a standard case. The 1948 value of the Maine production averaged $15.95 a standard case compared with $15.56 for the Massachusetts production. eeoeeeocex7eeeeee200208 1944 STH COFLHOSAHDH ETF OHOROCH ESL LCHSHHLOETSEDLOCOTHO HEL OOE 1943 « Mole vietelora'vreleiele ciove/etateiers cterersisieis/stertieis vi siclaleleieie 1942 Sere oc or SOSGOVHHSOGeGeeHeeseoFOEFS F707 20080R 00 OO yy bb SGugGodcoosb0 Slaveleieiels ccc cercoscsncceccevrcrsccee 1940 sialciciceeviceceels selofelsieieieiere coe Pack of California Sardines, 1948 The 1948 pack of California sardines (pilchards) amounted to 2,654,149 standard cases, valued at $21,892,893 to the canners. Compared with the previous year, this [ table 1 - Pack of Calif, Sardines, 1948 (Quantity & Value to the Canners Table 2 - Pack rc Calif, Sardines, 1948, By Size of Can & Case Natural, withoyt sauce or oi In tomato sauce .. In mstard saucs.. Other= scccccccce Total cistectelee BY 1/Includes the pack "canned in Oregon. Typ cludes special packs of sardines vilchards) in soybean oil; in olive oi] ard tomato sauce; fillets, nat= ural, in soybean oil, in olive oil, and in tomato sauce, Notes "Standard cases" represent various-sized es converted to 4 No, 1 tall cans (15 ounces net), ans’ Sea 1,137,424 ,120,710 . net, oval (48 cans) 967,130 , 170,637 : td “tall (48 cans) 61,150 315,618 net, oblong (48 cans) 698,946 4,353,342 z. net (96 cans) ..cssecceses 1, 214 5 ounces net (1CO cans) s.ssccececrs 127, 200 1,046,081 July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 27 was an increase of 61 percent in volume and 32 percent in value. While the 1948 pack was the most valuable in the history of the fishery, the production was only slightly over half as great as the record 1941 pack (5,007,154 cases, valued at $18,091,873). Sardines ilchards ere ca Gal 1 plants i Pablo pe en egcice | cali tp cardines nes (pilchards) wer nned in 51 plants in (Pilchards ) 1939-46 & Value to the Canners California and 3 plants in Oregon. The average standard case price at the can-— ners! level was $8.25 in 1948, $1.76 per case low-— Gee erthanin 1947. The lowest average case price dur- 19¢6o5048 ing the past ten years was $3.05 in 1940. From 15,346,472 $4208 in 1945, the average case price increased 15, 225,919 sharply in 1946 to $6.68, and rose in 1947 to 14,352, 359 $10.01 per standard case, the highest price ever paid for California sardines. During 1948 the natural pack averaged $6.70 per standard case; tomato-sauce pack, $9.45; mustard-sauce pack, $9.05; and other special packs, $13.52. Pack of Maine Sardines, 1948 The pack of Maine sardines in 1948 amounted to 3,060,842 standard cases, valued at $26,921,926 to the packers. Compared with the previous year, this was an increase of 8 percent in volume, but a decline of 3 percent in value. The 1948 pack was the second largest and the second most valuable in the history of the industry. The record pack of canned Maine sardines (3,131,276 cases, valued at $12,475,991) was canned in 1941. The most valuable pack wasin1947 when 2,834,690 cases were canned, valued at $27,677,704. Table 2 - Pack of Maine Sardines by Size of Can & Case, 1948 Table 1 - Pack of Maine Sardines, 1948 (Quantity & Canners Style of Pack Std, Cases m soybean or other vegetable oi (regular pack) y 06 In soybean or other vegetable oil = (fillets) ......0c0.0-- ds0ce099 199,020 Table 3 - Pack of Maine Sardines, 5 9-48 In mustard saUC® cecseccccrsccreesee ’ 5Zs) uantity & Value to the Canners In tomato seice ..c.cceccscesacvevce 104,015 In soy an oil, smoked or kippered . B $20,921,920 Othex/ielpccisleisierclelsidelnsisie sisiteleisieiare 1947 27,677,704 1946 15,548, 531 1/Includes special packs of sardines (sea herring) in olive 1945 11,520, 287 oil, spiced oil, peanut oil and soybean oil. 1944 14, 223,706 Note: "Standard ceses" represent the various-sized cases 1943 10,686,471 | converted to 100 4-cil cans (34 ounces net) to the case. 1942 11,691,981 12,475,991 3,736,394 075,096 Rising steadily from a iow of $3.20 per standard case in 1939toa high of $9.76 per standard case in 1947, the canners' average price in 1948 dropped to $8.80 per standard case or $0.96 per case below the previous year. Sardines (sea herring) were canned in 44 plants in Maine, 3 in Massachusetts, 1 in New Hampshire, and 1 in Maryland. 28 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. li, No. 7 U.S. Pack of Atlantic Coast Sea Herring, 1948 The 1948 production of Atlantic Coast sea herring, packed in cans with net contents of over 10 ounces each, amounted to 280,388 standard cases, valued at $2,437,188 to the canner. Compared with the 1947 production, this was an in-— crease of 247 percent in volume and 285 percent in value. Canning of large sea herring on the Atlantic Coast is a comparatively new development. In 1941, a pack of only 16,125 standard cases was produced, and since that year the produc- tion has ranged from 68,497 cases in 1943 to last year's record pack of 280,388 cases. Table 2 - Pack of Atlantic Coast Sea Herring, 1948, By Size of Can & Case (Quantity & Value to the Canners) Ip Stee rot Gant Gases hotuel cuss] = vee «| 275,645 92,557 SEE 88,960 |$ & 9,092 48, 526 485,429 ||Table 3 - Pack of Atlantic Coast Sea Herring, eer 1,302,667 & Value _to_ the _Canners) aa ue _to Table 1 - Pack of Atlantic Coast Sea Herring, 1948 (Quantity & Value to the Canners Other sizes comventeds to 15 oz, net fe cans) Natural or in soybe other vegetable age In mustard sauce , In tomato sauce , eecescecee te: "Standard cases" represent the various-sized cases converted to 48 No, 1 tall cans, each can containing 15 oz., net weight, of fish, Sea herring were canned in 13 plants in Maine, 4 in Massachusetts, 1 in New Hampshire, 3 in Maryland, and 1 in New Jersey. The canners! average price per standard case dropped from $7.61 in 1941 toa low of $5.84 in 1944 and 1945, and then rose steadily to $8.69 in 1948. Atlantic Coast sea herring packed in natural, soybean, or other vegetable oil averaged $7.30 per standard case; in mustard sauce, $10.00; and in tomato sauce, $9.12. U.S. Pack of Pacific Coast Sea Herring, 1948 Pacific Coast canners packed 46,060 standard cases of sea herring duringl948&, valued at $386,806 to the canners. This was an increase of nearly 40,000 cases compared with the previous year. Table 1 - Pack of Pacific Coast Sea Herring, 1948 antity & Value to the Canners The entire 1948 pack was produced | Style of Pack Eetgsesael | eatel ama in the San Francisco and Monterey Nature Coceeececcreesc cece Cheb 72 districts of California, where canning of these fish was begun In tomato sauce ....00. 9 034_ Total POP seecocsveccocece | 46,060 | 306 G06 ure of the pilchard fishery. In 1945 a small pack of sea herring years ago large packs of sea herring were canned in Alaska, but this production was discontinued in 192C. in 1947 as a result.of the fail— 1/Includes a small pack in soybean oil, was canned in Alaska. About 30 July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 29. Sea herring were canned in 13 plants in California. The average price per standard case increased steadily from a low of $6.80 in 1945 to a high of $8.40 in 1948. The price in 1948 was $1.40 per case higher than in 1947. Table 2 - Pack of Pacific Coast Sea Herring, 1948 *||Table 3 - Pack of roca Coast Sea Herring, 194 Other sizes Dee oan to 15 oz, net (48 cans) Note: "Standard cases" represent the various-sized cases converted to 48 No, 1 tall cans, each can containing 15 ounces, net weight, of fish. a © U.S. Pack of Canned Shad, 1948 The United States pack of canned shad in 1948 amounted to 14,773 standard cases, valued at $136,851 to the canners. This was a decline of 35 percent in cole 1 - Pack of Canned Shad, 1948, ryoctate 5 [Std Case : 15 oz. net (AS cans ce e403 (0 thantisises (conver tedictol 15 oz. net (48 cans) .... Total @e 02000000200 000 i (Principally fillets. volume and 31 percent in value compared with the previous year. Over 80 per- cent of the 1948 pack was canned on the Pacific Coast, principally in the Col- umbia River district of Oregon. During World War II, the production of canned shad on the Atlantic SS Se hate 3 = Pack of Canned Shad, 1939-48L/ Coast increased, but since the War, the production has drop- [Pacific Coast [| Atlantic Coast ped off considerably. oa eee ce The canners! ay— erage price per stand-— ard case in 1948 was #9.26 compared with $8.77 in 1947. Dur— ing the past ten years, the highest average price was $13.11 in 1/Does not include the SraauGe ion of smoked shad. 1945 compared to the 2/A small pack of shad on the Pacific Coast has been in- lowest of $3.06 in 1940. cluded with the Atlantic Coast production, Note: “peers cases" represent the various-sized cases converted to 48 No. 1 tall cans i to the case, each can containing 15 ounces of fish. 30 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, Now 7 The average price per standard case in 1948 for Atlantic Coast canned shad was $9.30 compared with $9.25 for the Pacific Coast pack, while in 1947 the At-— lantic Coast average was $7.54 compared with the Pacific Coast average of $9.03. In 1944, the canning of smoked shad was undertaken and 9,867 cases of 48 No. 1 tall cans, valued at $207,365 were packed. In the following year the pack amounted to 4,357 cases, valued at $93,264, and in 1946, it totaled 23,843 cases, valued at $714,243. Since 1946, only a single firm has continued to process smoked shad and the pack has been negligible. U.S. Production of Menhaden Products, 1948 7 Receipts of menhaden by manufacturers of menhaden products in 1948 amounted to 1,007,888,840 pounds (1,504,311,700 fish). This total was the largest record— [Menhaden | ee utilized | New Jersey coccccce Nery Delcnicvetere « Virginia @eceoeos0e North Carolina .... Florida @cevresscecd® Mississippi ecoeecce S. C., Law, & Tex, | 121,071,6 12,500 Total ..+e+e02/1,007, 000,040 || 104,050 | 2b 413 0) 1 1 1,682, 60 81,1 1/A small production of acidulated scrap has been included with dry scrap and meal pro- duction, 2/1,504, 311,700 fish, ed in the history of the fishery, and the first time it exceeded one billion pounds. The production of menhaden dry scrap and meal (104,058 tons, valued at $11,560,914) exceeded the previous record established in 1947. In 1948, the oil content of the fish was lower and the yield of oil (8,763,939 gallons, valued at $10,132,179) was less than in 1946. Menhaden dry scrap, meal and a portion of the oil are used in animal feeds; however, the major portion of the oil is used Table 2 - Menhaden Utilized and Production of Menhaden Products, 1939-46 (Quantity & Value to the Manufacturer, “Menhaden || PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED oe a ee ee utilized Dry Scrap and Meal |Acidulated Scrap ee ee 6,034,050 3829 7,080,588 774,671 3,999,482 6,005,414 (a) A.114.794 | in the production of soap, paint, linoleum and in many other manufacturing in- dustrial processes. July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 31 Menhaden products were manufactured in 3 plants in New Jersey, 6 in Virgini:, 8 in North Carolina, 5 in Florida, 3 in Mississippi, 2 in Delaware, and in 1 plant each in New York, South Carolina, Louisiana and Texas. The price of dry scrap and meal at the manufacturer's level climbed steadily from a low of $42.02 in 1939 to a high of $111.10 per ton in 1948 the price was only $0.72 per ton higher than in 1947, while in the latter year it was $19.44 per ton higher than in 1946. Oil Prices at the manufacturer's level also increased steadily from a lowof $0.27 to a high of $1.348 per gallon in 1947. The price in 1948 was $0.192 per gallon lower than in 1947, due to a sharp decline the latter part of the year. oe a U.S. Production of Oyster and Marine-Clam Shell Products, 1948. The production of oyster and marine-clam shell products in 1948 totaled 345,075 tons, valued at $2,474,492 to the manufacturer, This represents a decrease of 31 percent in quantity and 24 percent in value, compared with 1947. NawiJOLsey, |ioveccesceccecsses 1,319 : 5 $ 83,970 Pennsylvania and Maryland .... »14l 17,308 | 336, 659 Va,, Fla,, La,, and Tex. sssee 1,592,047 12,472 _ 224 2 346 | 1,816,112 27,9 AAO Oyster shell products were prepared in 5 plants in New Jersey, 4 plants in Pennsylvania, 3 plants each in Virginia and Washington, 2 plants each in Maryland Texas, and California, and 1 plant each in Florida, Louisiana and Oregon. Marine- clam shell products were produced in 1] plant in Washington. <=> Wholesale and Retail Prices As of May 17, 1949, the wholesale index for.all foods once more started to drop and was 0.5 percent lower than on April 12, 1949, and 7.9 percent below May 18,1948, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor. During May this year, wholesale prices for canned salmon remained steady and were exactly the same as in April. No doubt, this is due to the fact that offer— ings of last year's pack were light and no new stocks were yet available. The retail price index for all foods declined 0.2 percent from mid-April to mid-May as lower prices were reported for nearly all groups including fish and shellfish. The food index on May 15 was 202.4 percent of the 1935-39 average, 4, percent lower than a year ago but 39 percent above the level of June 1946.6 Chiefly responsible for the decline during the month were decreases of over 1 per- 32 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, Noo 7 Wholesale and Retail Prices pei Dems oe eS egg et eee Ro PO Re voentagelichangerscon== 6 ws 100 NEY 9A9 Apr,12 1949 May 16 1940 Index No. 6 =-1.0 -4,.6 do -0.5 -7.9 rel May 94 Canned salmon, Seattle: : se Pink, No, 1, Tall $ per doz. cans (0) +945 Red, No, 1, Tall do 0 0 Cod, cured, large shore Gloucester, Mass, $ per 100 lbs. (0) +6.9 ‘Retails (1935-39 = 100) Fresh, frozen and canned Fresh and frozen Canned salmon: Pink cent for the dairy products and meat, poultry and fish groups with fresh, frozen and canned fish declining 1.8 percent from mid-April to mid—May. The fresh and frozen fish index on May 15 this year was 2.6 percent lower than mid-April 1949 and mid-May 1948, while canned pink salmon prices dropped 0.5 percent below mid— April 1949, but were still 14.7 percent higher than on May 15, 1948. RECORDING COLOR CHANGES IN FROZEN PINK SALMON In studying the progress of deterioration in frozen pink salmon, it was found that there was a considerable change in color of the cut surface of the steaks. During storage studies with frozen fish, Stansby and Harrison (1942) found that the normal pink to red color of the sur-— face of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) fillets would fade, turn yellowish, and otherwise assume discolored tints of various degrees of intensity until the fillets were no longer marketable. Inasmuchas these alterations in color indicate a corresponding deterioration of the flavor and odor of the flesh, it may be a highly important index to both the processor and the consumer. As a part of an investigation (authors, 1946) on the keeping qual-— ities of frozen packaged pink salmon steaks, a study was made of the effect of treatment of steaks with brine and brine-sodium nitrate mixture on changes in surface color. These two kinds of steaks and an untreated control were observed at intervals during a 9-month storage period. The method employed for recording and evaluating the color of the flesh was that previously described by the authors (1942) in which color photo— graphs are taken, the transparencies placed in a spectrophotometer, and the spectral distribution curves are obtained. —-Fishery Leaflet 332 July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 33 Bahama Islands (British West Indies) SPONGE INDUSTRY, 1948: Production: The gathering of sponges was prohibited by Governmental order from July 1947 until April 1, 1948, when fishing was resumed. However, the sponge beds proved to be in such poor state that Jong thi Jul the closing order was put into Grass ..ccdoccccccccccccccvceccccccesceces effect again atthe end of July Hardhead ccccccccccccccccceccvccccccccece 1948, and is still effective, Reef and glove ..cccccccccccccccccccccece according to a March 11 report seeens wo} Bicisloieicicletsielaleiereicisivlotcisieielsiciereleiete Raen Hae Mmeicem Gengnlese a8 ellow PoeceoSsoecca dceSsesSOoOoeree 20808 Nassau. There are rumors that the order will be set aside again this year. Velvet © & 0000 0000950000909 00090 P00S00 8080 It is doubtful if there are any stocks remaining on hand. The outlook for 1949 is very discouraging. Exports: Refuse and Clippings 6 ire Unclassified Total 2/Not available, Current Prices: There has been a decline of approximately 20 percent in the current prices. Demand: Demand is small, owing to the Mediterranean sponges being offered in all markets. The outlook for 1949 is MOE | poor. | Type 1, aGraay. Hardhead : 7 and Glove _ 34 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 COLONY NOT TO REOPEN SPONGE BEDS: The Colonial Government's Agricultural and Marine Products Board decided that it was not in the interests of the Colony to reopen the sponge beds at this time, according to a May 11 report from the American Consulate at Nassau. Several persons interested in the sponge business recently made a tour of the beds at Andros and Abaco Islands, and reported that it would be folly for the Government to acquiesce in the demands for the reopening of the beds. Bizone Germany NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR BREMERHAVEN'S FISHERIES: Since the end of WorldWar II, several new buildings have been completed in the Bremerhaven Fischereihafen, more buildings begun, and many damaged buildings repaired, according to a March 9 report from the American Vice Consulate at Bremerhaven. Bremerhaven fisheries are import— ant to the German economy. Two companies operating fishing vessels out of this port are erecting build— ings, and it is hoped that other ship-owning firms will be settied here later. A fish importing and processing firm is building the largest single plant in this area. Amother firm is constructing a factory to produce packing boxes for sending fish inland. In addition, a new ice plant also is now under construction. An attempt is being made to attract fishery concerns formerly established in the Polish~ and Russian-occupied regions of Germany to Bremerhaven. Since suitable land in the presently improved section of the port no longer is available for settling new firms or for the expansion of old firms, it is planned to develop a further area of land. The entire project will cost about $1,900,000. A 656-foot extension is planned for the main auction building. In the future, auction halls will be built on piers or quays jutting out into the water with berths on each side for ships. Construction along this line will enable more discharging berths to be accomodated in the limited expanse of water available. Provided the fisheries are not caught between rising costs and fixed fish prices, and provided the German meat ration remains low, the next decade will see an expansion in Bremerhaven as a fishing port. >. th Canada BRITISH COLUMBIA WHALING SEASON OPENS: The Canadian Department of Fisheries has issued licenses to three boats operated by one company for the hunting of whales in Northern British Columbia waters, according to the May 1949 Trade News of the Canadian Fisheries Department. Last year, the Company's three whalers accounted for the catching of 184 whales, and this year with an improvement in vessels it is expected that the catch will be greater. A fully equipped processing plant at Coal Harbour, Vancouver Island, will handle the expected increased production. Hunting for the whales got under way early in May. July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 35 "LONG-LINING" PROVES OF VALUE ON EAST COAST: Canadian East Coast inshore fishermen are improving their catching efficiency by adopting mechanical gear to haul in their lines, a method used on West Coast halibut boats. Interest in "long lining" was stimulated by Fisheries Research Board scientists at the Atlantic Biological Station, St. Andrews, N. B., who carried out demonstrations with the power gear on the fisheries research vessel, the J. J. Cowie, according to the June 1949 Canadian Fisheries Department Trade News. "Long-lining" involves the use of a powered hauler or gurdy which is oper-— ated directly from the main engine or from an auxiliary engine and hauls back the gear. The method is best adapted to the Atlantic coast cod fishery on boats of from 30 to 50 feet in length. Advantages of using "long—-lining", according to the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, are that the tiring job of hauling by hand is lessened; gear hauling in rough weather and strong tides is easier; rapid, even hauling saves time and reduces gear parting, and more fish can be handled with the same effort. Four small gurdies for test purposes were distributed by the Department of Fisheries to fishermen in four Atlantic ports. This, together with demonstra- tions by the J. Je Cowie, led to increasing interest in the greater efficiency of power hauling. Fishermen using gurdies at Shelburne, Liverpool, Lockeport and Clark's Harbour now vouch for its efficiency. At Caraquet a gurdy was installed in one of eight similar boats. As a result, this boat increased its season's catch from 183,000 to 243,000 pounds, and increased its rating in the fleet from seventh to third place. Complete gurdy, ready for installation, costs approximately $125. This can be reduced considerably by fit- ting an old motor car differential and axle with a gurdy head. Emphasizing the advantages of "long-lining", the Atlantic Biological Station scientists say that offshore and inshore fishing each produces about one-half the Canadian groundfish catch. The efficiency of offshore fishing is advancing through use of otter trawls. To compete, the inshore fishery must strive continuously for better efficiency and one method of improving this efficiency is through con— version to "long-lining." RENEWS TUNA PATROL OFF BRITISH COLUMBIA COAST: Active assistance to the tuna fishery off the British Columbia coast by the Canadian Department of Fisheries is again underway this year, The Laurier, one of the larger vessels of the De- partment, left Victoria early in June to begin the first leg of its patrol. The plan called for early scouting for tuna in the area southeast of the Queen Charlotte Islands. Following pre-determined courses, the Laurier proceeded up-coast and after refueling at Prince Rupert, retraced the up-coast pattern gen- erally and arrived at Victoria again on June 26. Daily broadcasts to the fleet will be made from the Laurier, following the character and timing used in 1948. When tuna are located, the vessel will follow a pattern of patrol which will take care of the considerations of the scientific investigators, and at the same time permit adequate tests and experiments with fishing gear to be carried out. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service also is conducting an explor— atory tuna survey to be carried on principally in southeastern Alaska waters by the USFWS Oregon, equipped with bait tanks and trolling gear. In order to avoid duplication of effort, this program is to be coordinated with the albacore 36 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 tuna survey by the Canadian Department of Fisheries. Through the current ex-— change of information between the two agencies, daily broadcasts are to be made to the fishery fleet from the vessel Oregon in order to keep the fishermen ad= vised of the albacore movements. SPONSORS CONFERENCE ON EAST COAST SALMON: The Canadian authorities have offered to cooperate with the East Coast provinces in a program to rehabilitate the Atlantic salmon fishery. At a meeting in Ottawa on April 28, representatives of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland dis— cussed with Department of Fisheries officials the need fcr such a program and agreed that the best way of carrying it out would be through regular meetings of a Dominion—Provincial conference, There was general agreement among the representatives of the five provinces that there was need for a body with representation of Provincial Governments and of the Federal Government to consider from time to time salmon policy on regula— tion, development work and research, and to recommend to the various Governments lines of attack. The Federal Government has already accumulated a large amount of information and has started to do some additional work. The Fisheries Research Board is gath— ering all information on salmon and is contemplating expanding salmon work where information is needed. This also applies to Newfoundland. The Fish Culture Devel- opment Branch is stressing the problem of rehabilitation by removal of obstructions in streams and the building of fishways. In Newfoundland, the Department of Natural Resources is’ carrying on its work of expanding spawning areas for salmon this year. The Fisheries Department is also attempting to improve the statistics on salmon catches. To this end an officer has been assigned to act as a liaison with the provinces to obtain better statistics. HHeEKE ESTIMATED 1949 BRITISH COLUMBIA SALMON PACK: The British Columbia salmon can— ing industry anticipates a pack of approximately 1,800,000 cases of salmon this season, according to a June 30 report from the American Consulate General at Vancouver. However, they may have difficulty selling at satisfactory prices not— withstanding an announcement early in June that Great Britain would purchase 410,000 cases of salmon, consisting of sockeye, coho, and pinks, at a _ price of $7,000,000. To further the sale of canned salmon in the domestic market, salmon canners have agreed to spend $500,000 in the next eight months in an advertising effort to sell their product throughout Canada. vo Geylon DANISH FISHERIES EXPERT RECOMMENDS EXPANSION OF FISHERIES: A Danish fisheries biologist, who has been in Ceylon since February investigating that country's fish—- eries, returned to Denmark the early part of May, according to a May 24 report from the American Embassy at Copenhagen. He recommended a modernization of the entire July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 37 island's fishery industry. Two Danish fishery cutters are being sent to Ceylon to assist in the training of the local fishermen. A large Danish industrial firm of Copenhagen located in Ceylon has pre— pared for the Government a report concerning the establishment and construction of canneries, refrigerated plants, etc. (See Commercial Fisheries Review, March 1949, page 51). rae Chile FISHERIES UNDEVELOPED: Chile's rich sea resources continue to be relatively untapped, according to Economic Review of Chile, 1948, of the Office of International Trade. Production of fish in 1947 amounted to 46,000 metric tons and of shellfish, 14,300 metric tons. The output in 1948 probably was somewhat larger. In the North there are canneries and freezers, mainly for the preparation of swordfish and tuna for export, but the potential demand for fish inthe population centers of Chile remains undeveloped. Inadequate cold storage and transportation facilities limit the distribution of fresh fish. Even in Santiago and coastal towns the chronic low supply and resulting high prices have made fish something of a luxury food. The meat crisis has directed attention to fish as a logical and readily available substitute for meat, and plans have been announced for improving refrigerated storage and transportation facilities. France TRADE AGREEMENTS INCLUDE FISHERY PRODUCTS: A commercial agreement signed August 1, 1948, provides for France to import from the Netherlands 2,100 metric tons of salt herring and 6 million francs ($24,000) of fresh fish, according to a February 28 report from the American Embassy at Paris. Under the Franco—Danish commercial agreement of November 1, 1948, France has allotted 100,000 Danish crowns ($20,840) for the import of trout from Denmark. The Franco—Norwegian commercial agreement of June 4, 1948, provides an allot— ment of 3,900 metric tons and a credit of -350,000 Norwegian crowns ($70,420) for the import of various sea fish, frozen and fresh, from Norway. Indonesia FISHERIES REVIEW, 1948: Both sea and inland fisheries showed favorable prog-— ress in 1948, with a total movement of dried and salted fish of 19,000 metric tons during the first nine months, valued at $7,980,000. The Indonesian Fish-— ery Service supplied about $1,520,000 worth of sail cloth, nets, line, and other supplies during 1948 as compared with $646,000 in 1947. The fishing industry is now about 65 percent of prewar, according to a January 31 report from the American Con- 38 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, Noe 7 sulate General at Batavia, Java. Fish is a very important item in the native diet and strenuous efforts are being made to increase domestic production in order to cut down import requirements. In the Federal Territory (area under Dutch control), 764,000 metric tons of canned fish were distributed officially during the Third Quarter, 1948, compared to 1,279,000 tons in the Second Quarter, 529,000 tons in the First Quarter, and 280,000 tons in the Fourth Quarter of 1947. Notes Values converted on basis of official exchange rate of 1 guilder equals $0.38 U. S. Japan EQUIPMENT AND PROCESSING METHODS USED BY JAPANESE ANTARCTIC WHALING EXPEDITIONS: Factory equipment and processing ing methods’ being used « used on the 1948-49 Japanese Antarc— tic whaling expedition are as follows, according to the January 22 Weekly Summary of the Natural Resources Section of SCAP. A TYPICAL JAPANESE WHALE CATCHER OR KILLER. BOAT (385 GROSS METRIC TONS ) USED IN ANT- ARCTIC WHALING. The floating factory ships Nisshin Maru No. 1 and Hashidate Maru, 11,781 and 10,798 gross tons, respectively, are equipped a almost identically. ~ Each coneadivs seven oil extraction boilers and eight separators for the extraction of whale oil from blubber, bone, and internal organs. All the units were manufactured in Japan from prewar European designs. Both ships are equipped with plants of Japanese design and manufacture for the extraction of vitamin oil from whale livers and for the recovery of bone meal fromthe residue. Both plants employ standard machin ery, such as cutting and chopping machines, cooking kettles, cyclones, washing drums, dehydrators, and screw driers. In addition, the ships contain centrifugal separators, fabricated in Japan, for the purification of whale and liver oil. July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 39 All bone, the greater part of the blubber, and the stomachs, kidneys, and intestines are processed for whale oil on the factory ships. The raw material is digested in the boilers and is passed to separators, where the oil is drawn off. The oil is then run through centrifugal separators for final purification and stored in the ship's tanks. A limited quantity of the residue from the bone proc— essing apparatus, consisting of bone meal, glue, and a quantity of oil and sea water, is piped to the bone meal plant where it is washed and the liquids removed in a centrifugal dehydrator. The remaining bone meal is then passed through a steam jacket screw drier and bagged. Livers are chopped and ground into small pieces, mixed with fresh water, and cooked with caustic soda. After cooking, the vitamin oil is extracted by centrifugal separators. Al] meat, a small amount of blubber, and the ventral grooves (the striated blubber from the ventral side of the carcass and the accompanying layer of meat extending from the tip of the lower jaw to the flippers) are transported from the factory ships to salting and refrigerator ships in small launches, for preser— vation and transportation to Japan for human consumption. Products to be frozen are precooled with sea water on the decks of the refrigerator ships, then placed in wood or metal trays, and frozen between metal plates which are in direct con- tact with refrigerated brine. The frozen products are stored in refrigerated holds at temperatures of -15°-20° C. Products to be salted are washed with sea water on the decks of the salting ships and then wet-salted in open holds. Certain internal organs, such as testes, ovaries, pancreases, and livers, are frozen and returned to Japan for extraction of hormones, insulin, and vitamin oil. Mandated Islands PREWAR PEARL OYSTER CULTURE IN THE SOUTH SHAS: Little information is avail-—- able on on Japanese prewar experiments with pearl oyster culture in the South Seas, because records, which were kept locally on the islands, were lost during World War II, according to the March 5 Weekly Summary of Natural Resources Section of SCAP. The fol- lowing information on pearl culture in the South Sea isiands has been obtained in Japan. Boetoeng (Celebes): Aseries of experi-— ments was made on the artificial production of pearls at Boetoeng, the scutheastern ex— tremity of Celebes, in1920. The golden— lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada maxima Jameson, locally called "shirocho—gai}' was used. These experiments resulted in the production of some fine culture pearls in 1928. The stock used in this station was collected by pearling luggers from the great pearl oyster grounds of the Arafura Sea, lying between New Guinea and Australia, especially near Aroe Island. DIVING FOR PEARL OYSTERS Palau (Caroline Islands): The success in the culture of pearls in Japan prompted experimental work at a station estab-— 40 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 lished at Palau in 1920, Starting with the more readily available black—lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, the "kurocho-gai", the work was later ex— tended tc include the yellow-lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada maxima or "shirocho-gai". Quantities of the former were readily available at Palau, and arrangements were made to import live "shirocho-gai" from the Arafura Sea. In1935 and1936, Pinctada martensii, the Japanese pearl oyster, was successfully introduced and planted at Palau. The experiments were successful in a measure, and some good pearls were pro—- duced. Two other companies began operations at Palau, in 1936 and 1937, and activ- ities continued until the outbreak of World War II in 1941. Apparently as a result of unfavorable environmental conditions, the Palau pearl enterprises were not highly successful froma commercial standpoint and the projects are now regarded as failures.

) Hake (stockfish); livers yield from 10,000 to 20,000 international units per gram, (c) Snoek:livers have a low oil content, but when other extractive oils are added the yield becomes between 20,000 and 40,000 in- ternational units per gram, Production of vitamin A in the 1948 calendar year was 12 x 10’~ (12 trillion) international units (14.205 x 10’* U.S.P. units). The entire output of vitamin A oils in 1948 was sold to the British Ministry of Food except. for small amounts channelled to Europe. Fish Body Oils: Fish body oils processed in the Union of South Africa are taken primarily from two classes of fish: (a) Horse mackerel (maasbanker): The season is short--November to March--and production in 1948 was only 1,000 short tons; there were only two plants producing oil from this fish during last year. (vo) Pilchards: Production of pilchard oil in 1948 was 1,000 short tons, Expansion in the catching of pilchards both for canning and for the production of oil has been so dramatic in the past year that the Fisheries Development Corporation is making stren- uous efforts to bring about legislation to limit the number and sizes of factories and to regulate the quantities of fish that may be produced, Industrial Oils: Industrial oils are processed in the Union of South Africa from the maasbanker and the pilchard. Total production in calendar 1948 was: (a) Semi-crude oil 400 short tons (used for general industrial purposes) (b) Refined (bleached and winterized) oil 400 short tons (used for paint, varnish, linoleum, etc.) Outlook for 1949: VITAMIN A OILS: The expected productionof vitemin A for calendar 1949 is 13 x 10’~ (13 trillion) international units which at present prices would bring a gross of $5,000,000. While sales will continue to be made to the British Ministry of Food with small quantities going to Western Europe and South Africa, one company is making a strong drive to expand their United States market. They expect to export to the United States "a large percentage" of their vitamin A concentrates in potencies of 200,000 to 1,000,000 U.S.P. They have a sales goal of $4,000,000. Fish Body Oils: The expected production of fish body oils in 1949 is 4,000 short tons from maasbanker and 6,000 short tons from pilchard or a total of 10,000 short tons. Of this production 5,000 tons are expected to be sold as crude oil and to bring an estimated gross return of $1,700,000 at current prices. Industrial Oils (Bleached and Winterized): The expected production of bleached and winterized oils in 1949 is 5,000 short tons; the expected return at present prices would be $2,000,000. Markets: Less emphasis is being placed upon industrial oils for 1949, not only because of the marked recent drop in prices but also because ECA deliveries of vegetable oils to Europe has reduced that market for industrial oils. oe = July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 49 United Kingdom SEA FISH INDUSTRY BILL: A Sea Fish Industry Bill was introduced in the British House of Commons on May 12, 1949, according to a June 7 report from the American Embassy at London. The purpose of the Bill is stated as being: "To provide for giving financial assistance to persons engaged in or desiring to engage in the sea-fishing industry, for regulating the crew accommodation provided in fishing boats, for safeguarding the quality of sea fish intended for human consumption and otherwise securing the best use of supplies of sea fish, for the licensing of fishing boats and of persons engaged in processing or wholesale dealing in sea fish, for appointing sea-fishery officers, for amending the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, with respect to fishing boats engeged in the Newfoundland cod fisheries, for repealing certain provisions of the Sea Fish In- dustry Act, 1938, and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid,” On May 20, at the close of the debate, the Bill was read a second time and sent to Committee. Uruguay STATUS OF FISHERIES: Despite huge potential fishing resources and a general liking for fish by Uruguayans, fish products constitute only a sma]l part of the national diet of the inhabitants, according to the January 22 Foreign Trade, a Canadian periodical. Nevertheless, Uruguay is far from self-sufficient in fishery products. Only recently has there been any concerted interest displayed by both the people and the Government in the development of their fishery resources. The shrinkage in imports of fish during the Second World War was a determining factor in focussing attention on the development of the domestic fishing industry. The coastline of Uruguay extends for about 250 miles, and the main fishing area is located between Montevideo, the capital, and Punta del Este, some 150 miles to the east. The next major fishing area is the Uruguay River, the ports of Pay— sandu and Neuva Palmira being the principal centers for western Uruguay. In ad=- dition, a number of small rivers traverse the country in various directions, among them the Rio Negro, Rio Queguay, Rio Cebollati, and the Rio Santa Lucia. Fish is also abundant in the estuary of the Rio de la Plata, due to the many sand banks. Fresh-water Fish Not Exploited Commercially: Fresh-water fishing has been investigated extensively in the shallow lakes near the coast and in other lagoons of southeastern Uruguay, which are reported to be good areas for developing smelt (pejerrey) fisheries, the preferred fresh fish in the area. However, fresh-water fish is not yet exploited commercially to any great extent. There are no trout or salmon in Uruguay, due to the waters of the streams being muddy. The most common lake and river fish is the corvina negra, which weigh from 20 to 50 pounds and even more. The flesh is poor in quality but it is substantial and, when dried and cured, will pass for cod. Dorados and tarariras abound in the large streams and up rivers, but they are a game fish rather than a@ commercial variety. 50 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 The chief fresh-water fish are the corvina negra (Pogonias chromis), the dorado (Salaminus platensis), the mandubi (Ageneiosus valenciennesis), the pacu (Myletes orbignyanus), the sabalo (Prochilodus platensis), andthe tararira (Hoplias malabaricus). Many Varieties of Salt—water Fish Available: Nearly all the salt-water fish are caught close to shore, and the most common types are the following: the anchoa (Pomatomus saltatrix), the bonito (Sarda sarda), the brotula (Urophycis brasiliensis), the burriqueta (Ophioscion adustus), the congrio (Leptocephalus conger) , the criolla (Pogonias Bee ar the corvina blanca (Micropogon opercularis), the lenguado (Xystreuris notatus), the lisa (Mugil brasiliensis), the merluza (Merluccius gayi), the mero (Acantristius patagonicus), the palometa (Parona signata), the pargo colorado (Pargus pargus), the pejerrey (Menidia bonariensis), the pescadilla (Mac— rodon anc lodon) , and the sargo (Diplodus argenteus). Among the better-known species are the corvina (croaker), which accounts for 78 percent of the total catch, the pescadilla (sea trout) with 12 percent of the catch, and the bagre (catfish) and the merluza (hake) with 1 percent each. Other species are: the congrio (conger eel), the pejerrey, the menhaden, the mullet, the flounder, the bluefish, the shad, and the shark. During the past season, 14,000 sharks were caught andthe liver oil, amounting to some 1,100 pounds, was sold locally for vitamins. In 1943, the total annual fish catch of Uruguay was reported to be 7,334,000 pounds. The only official statistics available on the fish catch in Uruguay are for the period 1937-41 and make no distinction between salt— and fresh-water fish (Table 1). Table 1 = Production of rome iShery Products | It is estimated that the total catch is, at present, between 7.7 million and 8.8 million pounds a year. Government Participates in Fishing Industry: The fishing industry of Uruguay is divided between private enterprise and a competitive government-operated fish— ing service known as Servicio Oceanografico y de Pesca. The S.0.Y.P. operates offshore from Montevideo and Punta del Este and accounts for approximately 40 per-—- cent of the catch, This government organization owns a large steam trawler and several small craft. It has a warehouse for cleaning and storing fish, one ice factory, another factory for the preparation of fish meal and fish oil, and a canning plant. Production of canned fish was 148,000 pounds in 1942 and, with present equipment, maximum production might reach half a million pounds. The SoOoYoP. is now being reorganized, and it is proposed to spend several million dollars on new equipment, suchas cold—storage plants and more and better trawlers. The service is already experimenting in the production of dried and smoked fish and hopes in time to can fish for export. Private fishermen, operating from Montevideo and Piriapolis, confine their activities to inshore fishing and specialize in taking the common types such as the corvina and pescadilla. Fishing on the Uruguay River, from Paysandu and Nueva Palmira is also a private enterprise. In 1947, the total number of fishermen in Uruguay was estimated at 400. Establishment of Cannery Proposed: A company has recently been incorporated with an authorized capital of 2.5 million pesos (approximately $1,645,750). It July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 51 is now being organized and proposes setting up a large fish, meat, and vegetable cannery. Fifty percent of the capital is reported to be owned by French interests with whom the company has a 20-year contract for the output of canned foodstuffs. It is reported that the French interests are sending out their own technicians. Factors hindering production in Uruguay are: 1, Most of the fish is caught by individual fishermen operating on a small scale. 2. The number of large-scale producing units is insufficient. 3. There is a gensrel shortage of all types of fishing gear, particularly boats and tackle needed for deep-sea fishing, However, it is expected these last two factors will be largely eliminated by the new government subsidy to S.0.Y.P. and by the establishment of the new large-scale producing unit mentioned above, Seal Rookery: The Government owns a seal rookery at Isla de Lobos, near Punta del Este. There are over 300,000 seals on the island, and the annual slaughter is approximately 7,000. These produce some 88,000 pounds of oil plus, of course, the skins. The business is under the control of S.0.Y.P. (Servicio Oceanografico y de Pesca), a Government organization. Imports: The greater part of the population is of Spanish and Italian descent and, prices and quality being equal, the preference will always be for canned fish produced in the mother countries. Salt cod is the most important var-—- iety of fish import-— ed into Uruguay, and Ibe Norway is the leading 19, ier - / AS 20 supplier. Only the - bavi d oy highest grade is im- 1946 2... 561,682 ported. 1939 ....| 1,128,816 te B000 Nabe 968,08 we The present trade Ana for canned sardines, 938 158 1 | r Only first six cmos of the year. anchovies, and her= ring is about the same as 1937 through 1939 as regards volume and countries of origin. A fair demand exists for sardines in oil, the principal suppliers being Spain, France, and Norway. Pressed sardines are also imported from Portugal and, to a lesser extent, from Spain. Anchovies are supplied mainly by Spain, Portugal, and Argentina. During the 1937-39 period, imports of dried herring totaled 11,246 pounds and came from Norway. During the same period, imports of oysters and lobsters amounted to 21,360 pounds, the United Kingdom being the principal supplier. 52 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, Noe 7 International ANTARCTIC WHALING PRODUCTION, 1948-49 SEASON: The 1948-49 pelagic whaling season, the fourth since ue war y fonened December 15, and since the season's quota of 16,000 blue whale unitst (aboat 30,000 whales) set by the International Whaling Gonjentdon was reached on March 26, the season closed 12 days before the scheduled closing date of April 7. The whales affected by the limit are baleens (which include the world's largest mammal, the blue whale), the fin whales (which yield some of the best whale meat), and the smaller sei whales of which only a few have been caught this season. (Sperm whales are not included with baleens) . Table 1 = Whale Oil; Southern Hemisphere Production// , Sea and 1947-48 Seasons Compared with Average Season 1933-34 to 19 T Average 1933-34 SCL Yee os eee ee to 1936-37 Coun Whale | Spera| Total | Whale | Soere | Sperm | Total | Total Sraeiees ........41,000 ‘short tons ae oe Argen TE seoccvrccesr 20000000 12.0| oA 12,4 ie a5) 8.4 53} Chil @@eeG@oosceeGoee2esdG00809 2.0 2.9 4.9 1.9 oo 4.3 1.5 Japan SCosoSeeeess C0000 00000 2.9 <2 Ad 19.6 19.6 15.3 Netherlands C0 CC2CeC LOCC ROHAOCE US) 6 8 20.4 14.6 1.3 15.9 =. Norway’ cis/erciescleic cision sisiale ole sis ore 4/1 84-0 2.4 bos. 4 185.7 | 10.5 | 196.2 22.2 Union of South Africa ccccece 2.9} 4.1) 30.0] 29.0] 4.8] 33.8 Z UD SU EHD) snodedannpnodososcocel) ATES wy “slo CYAISIO)||1. OLA .5| 10.9 al United Kingdom ...cccccccocce| 115.9 4.1} 130.0 | 129.2 | 12.7 | 141.9 2 Total seepersssensesesesee| 392031 45-71 43020 | 398.3 | 32.7 1431.0 2/525. l/Approximately 90 percent produced is Antarctic catch and balance mainly shore station catch from herds en route or departing from Antarctic; comprises 95 percent of total world production of whale oil, Preliminary. Scents years 1947 and 1948, 4/Unofficial estimate, Included in United Kingdom production, /Including others - 38, tons. Production: The Southern Hemisphere production accounts for over 95 percent of the world output of whale oil, and about 90 percent of this is from whales caught in the Antarctic with the balance from the catch of shore stations that hunt herds moving to and from the Antarctic (Table 1). The shore stations operate for six months and their season ended April 16. They operate independently of the quota of 16,000 blue whale units which applies to pelagic expeditions only. Whale oil production makes up over two-thirds of the world production of all marine oils. Seven countries participated in Antarctic pelagic whaling this season. (Table 2, also see Commercial Fisheries Review, February 1949, page 66.) Table 2 © Antarctic Whaling: Countries Participating and Equipment in Use, 1947-48 and 1948-49 Seasons [Floating F Factories Shore Sts Bons Argentina OO 0OSSH0C LODO HOODOO HLES Japan @0OCoOL OLE L CLO OOOO OLOD200® Netherlands SO SO rn) NOrway oscccceccscccccccccsosoccs Union of South Africa .cccccceccce United Kingdom Ceeccvecerececcr000 U.S.S.R. @eeeseeoees0e ee See280000 TOE Melsleveleloletelelevore Two fin whales or six sei whales are counted as one blue whale unit. PWROrFR NI July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 53 Outlook: The whaling industry is expected to maintain its present capacity and production of oil for some years to come. The quantities of oil produced probably will vary between the participating countries from year to year but the total output will remain about the same, Demand probably will continue strong for whale oil, as production will remain limited, whereas the markets for it will remain steady in those countries which traditionally use whale oil. Demand may increase in Germany, formerly one of the largest consuming countries. Norway, in the 1948-49 season, regained her prewar strength in whaling equip- ment. This country in the last two seasons has produced almost half of the total output of whale oil in the Southern Hemisphere. During the 1948-49 Antarctic season, Norway produced an estimated 205,400 short tons or about 45 percent of the total production, compared with 196,200 tons in the 1947-48 season, also about 45 percent of the total world production. The United Kingdom is the second largest producer of Antarctic whale oil with an estimated 130,000 short tons in 1948-49, and 141,900 tons in 1947-48. This season's production was about 40 percent below the prewar average. HHH EH INTER-NORDIC FISHERIES COOPERATION: The Ministers of Fisheries of Denmark Norway, and Sweden met in Copenhagen on May 15 and 16, 1949, to discuss problems of mutual Nordic interest in the fisheries industry, according to a May 19 consular report from Copenhagen. It was agreed at the meeting to establish a joint Nordic Conmittee composed of representatives and biologists of the respective Governments whose primary task would be to investigate herring fisheries in Nordic waters. A five-year plan was approved. It was further agreed to take joint action in the matter of affording pro-— fessional education facilities for fishermen, but more detailed information re- garding the attitude of the individual Governments will be presented at a future meeting. The representatives favored greater Nordic collaboration at future inter- national conferences in the field of fisheries. Finally, it was decided that the next Nordic fisheries conference should be held in Sweden some time during the summer of 1950, and that biologists, govern- ment representatives and representatives of the industry of the several countries should be invited to participate. At the Nordic Fisheries Conference at Hindsgaul, which preceded the Copenhagen meeting, the following matters were discussed: development of fresh water fishing, Greenland fisheries, utilization of Marshall aid for the benefit of the industry, and export policies and problems. Present at the Hindsgaul meeting were represen— tatives of the fishing industry, goverriment officials and biologists from all the above-mentioned countries. KHeHEHE TUNA RESEARCH IN EUROPE: A meeting of the Atlantic Committee for the Study of Tunas was held May 23-27 at Malaga, Spain. This Committee was organized under the International Council for the Study of the Sea at its meeting in Copenhagen in October 1948. Its purpose is to assemble all knowledge about tunas and to plan 5k COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, Now. 7 and coordinate tuna research. The Chief of the Service's Branch of Fishery Biology attended the meeting. In the discussions, attention was focused on what Americans call yellowfin, big-eyed, bluefin, and albacore, and to some extent, also the skipjack, the frigate mackerel, and the black skipjack. The yellowfin occurs in the Gulf of Gascony, off Spain and Portugal, off Morocco, Mauritania, the Canary Islands, Senegal and Angola. It does not occur in the Mediterranean. The big-eyed occurs off Morocco, in the open sea off Mauritania during July; it is occasionally taken in Senegal and Angola, and is abundant at Madeira and the Azores. The seasonal occurrence of the albacore, the most valuable commercial tuna of France, varies according to locality. It appears variously from April to December from the coast of Brittany southward off Spain, Portugal and Madeira. About Decem— ber it vanishes. Most specimens of albacore caught in Europe are immature; their spawning place is unknown. The bluefin, most important in the southern European countries and in the Mediterranean, characteristically has two seasons. One as it moves toward the spawning grounds; the other after it has spawned. The prespawning migration, observed from airplanes, seems to come in waves, each composed of different sized fish. The largest fish generally come in first; these are followed by smaller ones, and those in turn by larger ones. The problem of what oceanographic conditions are associated with the occur— rence of albacore and bluefin are being studied by the French. For albacore, the optimum salinity is believed tc be 35.5, and temperature 14° C. et 50 meters, 189~20° C. at the surface. The fish are most likely to occur where Atlantic water - mixes with continental water. Fishing methods used on the Mediterranean coast of Spain were observed by those who attended the meeting, and in one net of the special type net used, around 500 tons of bluefin tuna (mostly of fish weighing 300 pounds each) were taken. A luncheon was given those attending the meeting at which tuna was served in many different ways. Nearly all parts of the fish seem to be used. The baked tuna tongue looked and tasted somewhat like meat. The meat from the belly was the best. Salted tuna meat and roe were also served. Se July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 55 ’ FEDERAL | ACTIONS Eighty-first Congress (First Session) JUNE 1949 Listed below are all the public bills, joint resolutions, etc. introduced, referred to committees, and passed by the Eighty—-First Congress during June1949 (unless otherwise specified) which affect in any way the fisheries and fishing and allied industries. House of Representatives: H, R, 5041 (Multer) - A bill to amend the Act entitled "An Act to promote export trade, and for other purposes", approved April 10, 1918, to pro- vide that no export trade association shall restrict any foreign buyer from dealing, directly or through an agent of his own selection, with any producer, manufacturer, or seller; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H. R, 5044 (Maybank) = A bill to contime for a temporary period certain powers, authority, and discretion in respect to tin and tin products cone ferred upon the President by the Second Decontrol Act of 1947, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking and Currency. H. B. 5067 (King) - A bill to give effect to the convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica for the estab- lishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, signed at Washe ington, May 31, 1949; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, H, R, 5089 (Byrnes) - A bill to encourage the prevention of water pollu- tion by allowing amounts paid for industrial waste treatment works to be amortized at an accelerated rate for incomeetax purposes; to the Committee on Ways and Means, H. R, 5091 (Chatham) - Same as H.R, 5089; to the Committee on Ways and Means. H. R, 5228 (Doyle) - A bill to give effect to the convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica for the es- tablishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, signed at Washington, May 31, 1949; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, H. R. 5280 (Celler) - A bill relating to the rights of the several states in lands beneath inland navigable waters and to the recognition of equities in submerged coastal lands adjacent to the shores of the United States, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H. R, 5322 (Peterson) - A bill to provide price support for natural sponges; to the Committee on Agriculture, 56 CCMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, Now 7 H, R. 5365 (Larcado) - A bill to provide for the transfer of the vessel Black Mallard to the State of Louisiana for the use and benefit of the department of wildlife and fisheries of such State; to the Com mittee on Public Lands. H. R. 5395 (Fulton) - A bill to encourage the prevention of stream pol- lution by allowing amounts paid for plants for the treatment of in dustrial waste as a deduction in computing net income; to the Commit- tee on Ways and Means, The following bills introduced prior to June 1, 1949, were not previously shown under this section: H, Res, 233 (Bland) - Resolution authorizing expenses of conducting in= vestigation of certain matters pertaining to the merchant marine and fisheries of the United States; to the Committee on House Administration, H, R, 2634 (Bartlett) - A bill to provide transportation of passengers and merchandise on Canadian vessels between Skagway, Alaska, and other points in Alaska, and between Haines, Alaska, and other points in Alaska, and between Hyder, Alaska, and other points in Alaska or the continental United States, either directly or via a foreign port, or for any part of the transportation; to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, (Introduced February 14, 1949). H, R, 4538 (Granger) - A bill to amend the Agricultural Act of 1948 by adding thereto a new section to establish an average parity price for fats and oils (includes marine fats and oils) and to aid in maine taining such parity price to producers; referred to the Committee on Agriculture, (introduced May 5, 1949). ; Senate: S, 1988 (Wherry for Cain) = A bill to provide for the holding of re= ferendums among the citizens of the States to determine their wishes with respect to the establishment of valley authorities which would include their States; to the Committee on Public Works, S, 1994 (Maybank) - A bill to contimae for a temporary period certain powers, authority, and discretion in respect to tin and tin products conferred upon the President by the Second Decontrol Act of 1947, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking and Currency. S. 2036 (Kefauver for himself and 19 others) - A bill to provide for the admission of Alaska into the Union, to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, S. 2080 (Johnson) - A bill to authorize the regulation of whaling and to give effect to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling signed at Washington under date of December 2, 1946, by the United States of America and certain other governments, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, S. 2097 (Pepper and Holland) ~ A bill to provide price support for natural sponges; to the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. S. 2133 (Downey) - A dill to give effect to the convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica for the establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, signed at Washington, May 31, 1949; to the Committee on Foreign Relations, S. 2153 (O'Mahoney) - 4 bill relating to the rights of the several states in lands beneath inland navigable waters and to the recogni- tion of equities in submerged coastal lands adjacent to the shores July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 57 of the United States, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, TREATY RECEIVED: Convention between U. S. and Costa Rica for establishment of Inter= American Tropical Tuna Commission was received (Exec.P). RESOLUTIONS PASSED: House of Representatives: H. Res. 174 (Weichel), amended, requesting the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Tariff Commission to investigate the domestic fishing industry, Passed on the call of the consent calen- der, June 20, 1949. Provides for a study of the effect of imports on the domestic fishing industry, with a report and recommendation to be made by September 15, 1949. No further action is required on H. Res. 174, and the agencies have commenced the task of studying and reporting. BILL SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT: H, R, 2361 (P. L. 109) - An act to provide for the reorganization of Government agencies, and for other purposes, "Reorganization Act of 1949." Signed and aporoved June 2, 1949. CONVENTION RATIFIED: Senate: International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (1948): Was ratified by the United States Senate in April 1949 without amend- ment, Signed in June 1948, at London, it will come into force January 1, 1951, provided, at least 12 months before that date, that not less than 15 acceptances including 7 by countries with at least 1,000,000 gross tons of shipping each, have been deposited. (See Commercial Fisheries Review, September 1948, page 34-35). The Convention itself consists of 15 articles accompanied by 6 chapters of technical regulations, 58 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Wotls Abb, Woo 7 LANDINGS AND RECEIPTS In Millions MAINE - LANDINGS NOT INCLUDING IMPORTS JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC. NEW YORK CITY-RECEIPTS OF FRESH & FROZEN FISH me SALT-WATER MARKET 24 22 ie) JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEG. GULF - SHRIMP LANDINGS HEADS OFF - FOR ALL USES /\947-48 1948-497 JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR.MAY JUNE In Thousands CALIFORNIA - PILCHARD LANDINGS DOES NOT |NCLUDE SUMMER OR OFF-SEASON PRODUCTION 948-49 Is » % an 7 / JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR.MAY JUNE of Pounds MASSACHUSETTS - LANDINGS BOSTON , GLOUCESTER , NEW BEDFORD , & CAPE COD = JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. CHICAGO - RECEIPTS OF FRESH & FROZEN FISH WHOLESALE MARiET te} JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. SEATTLE - RECEIPTS OF FRESH & FROZEN FISH WHOLESALE MARKET , LANDINGS , & IMPORTS JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. of Tons CALIFORNIA- TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH AN 4 N948 L X STAY 7 evs yo ie} JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC. July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 59 COLD STORAGE HOLDINGS and FREEZINGS of FISHERY PRODUCTS U.S. & ALASKA - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH to} JAN. FEB. MAR. APR, MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. NEW ENGLAND - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH JAN. FEB. MAR, APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. CHICAGO - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH 0. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND ALASKA - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH ° JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. of Pounds U.S. & ALASKA - FREEZINGS te} JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. NEW YORK CITY - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. GULF - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH ie} JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. CALIFORNIA - HOLDINGS OF FROZEN FISH JAN. FEB. MAR. APR, MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. 60 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, No. 7 CANNED FISHERY PRODUCTS In Thousands MAINE - SARDINES , ESTIMATED PACK M1949 Oo i : JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR, APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. CALIFORNIA - MACKEREL JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. WASHINGTON - PUGET SOUND SALMON =o cS JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG, SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. of Standard Cases UNITED STATES - SHRIMP 9 B, INCLUDES ONLY P FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, SEA~ FOOD INSPECTION SERVICE, to) JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUNE CALIFORNIA - PILCHARDS ad = ra JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUNE ALASKA - SALMON A949 \ JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. STANDARD CASES Variety No.Cans Can Designation Net. Wat. SARDINES 100 1/4 drawn 3 1/4 o:. SHRIMP “48 No.1 picnic 7 ox. TUNA 43 No. 1/2 tuna 7 oz. PILCHARDS 48 No. 1 oval 15 oz. MACKEREL 48 No. 300 15 oz. SALMON 48 l_pound tall 16 oz. July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 61 PRICES , IMPORTS and BY-PRODUCTS BOSTON - WEIGHTED AVERAGE PRICE MAINE - IMPORTS OF FRESH SEA HERRING ON NEW ENGLAND FISH EXCHANGE IN ¢ PER POUND IN MILLIONS OF POUNDS } = JAN. FEB. MAR, APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC. In Millions of Pounds U.S. - IMPORTS OF FRESH & FROZEN FILLETS U.S.- IMPORTS OF FRESH AND FROZEN OF GROUND FISH, INCLUDING ROSEFISH:- SHRIMP FROM MEXICO ol JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. IN MILLIONS OF POUNDS U.S.-IMPORTS OF CANNED SARDINES (Include in oil and not in oil ) U.S.- IMPORTS OF CANNED TUNA AND TUNA-LIKE FISH JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. ° JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. U.S. & ALASKA - PRODUCTION OF FISH OIL IN MILLIONS OF GALLONS U.S. & ALASKA - PRODUCTION OF FISH MEAL IN THOUSANDS OF TONS 1949 (Sener JAN. FEB. MAR. (0) a) = {o) JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT, NOV. DEC. APR. MAY. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC 62 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vol. 11, Noe 7 MS 6- x, cae chee as BP Pome Bo =< nae Recent publications of interest to the commercial fishing industry are listed below. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FROM THE O1VISIQN OF INFORMATION, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, QEPARTHMENT OF THE INTERIOR, WASHINGTON 25, 0. C. TYPES OF PUBLICATIONS ARE DESIGNATED AS FOLLOWS: CFS - CURRENT FISHERY STATISTICS OF TNE UNITEO STATES AND ALASKA, FL = FISHERY LEAFLETS. MDL - MARKET DEVELOPMENT SECTION LISTS OF DEALERS, LOCKER PLANTS, ASSOCIATIONS, ETC. SL - STATISTICAL SECTION LISTS OF DEALERS IN AND” PRODUCERS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS AND BYPRODUCTS. SEP.- SEPARATES (REPRINTS) FROM COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW. Number Title CFS-438 - Alaska Fisheries, 1947, Annual Summary crs-468 - Chesapeake Fisheries, 1946, Anmal Summary CFS-469 - New York Fisheries, 1946, Anmal CrS-470 - Massachusetts Landings, February 1949 CFS-471 - Frozen Fish Report, May 1949 CFS-472 - Massachusetts Landings, 1948, Anmal Summary CFS-473 - Maine Landings, March 1949 CFS=474 - Fish Meal and Oil, April 1949 CFS-475 - Massachusetts Landings, March 1949 CFS-476 - Imports and Exports, 1944 to 1948, Annual Summary CFS-477 - Frozen Fish Report, June 1949 CFS-479 - Maine Landings, April 1949 FL-1 {ieviead) - Refrigerated Locker Storage of Fish and Shellfish FL-254 (Revised) - List of Fishery Associations in the United States and Alaska FL=339 - The Mexican Fisheries Industry FL-340 - Contribution to the Biology of the King Crab FL-341 - The Sponge Fishing Industry in Libya (Africa) FL-346 - U. S. Special Mission Reviews Japanese Fisheries Situation SL-21 [Fastest - Wholesale Dealers in Fishery Products, California SL-102 (Revised) - Firms Canning Sardines and Sea Herring, 1948 SL-103 Bogie - Firms Canning Tuna and Tunalike Fishes, 1948 SL-104 (Revised) - Firms Canning Mackerel, 1948 Sep. 231 - Fishery Exploration in the Hawaiian Islands (Aug. to Oct. 1948, by the Vessel Oregon of the Pacific Exploration Company ) Sep. 232 - Receipts of Fishery Products at Seattle, 1948 * OK OK OK Chservations on Gonad Development, Spawning and Setting of Oysters and Starfish in Long Island Tsland Sou: Sound, Bulletin No. 4, vol. pe June 15, 1949, 3p., | mimao., free, Available upor upon request from Fishery Biological Laboratory, Fish and Wildlife Service, Milford, Com, First of a series of special bulletins issued periodically each oyster season for information of oyster growers on conditions existing in the oyster-producing section of Long Island Sound, The bulletins will offer information on the accumulation of spawn in the oysters, beginning of spawning, numbers of oyster larvae, occurrence of first oyster set, and intensity of oyster set during the entire summer, Similar observations will be made on starfish. July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 63 ARTICLES BY FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AUTHORS IN OTHER PUBLICATIONS “Early Stages in the Life History of the Common Marine Shrimp, Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus), by William W, Anderson, Joseph E. King, and Milton J. Lindner, The Biological Bulletin, April 1949, vol. %, no. 2, pp. 168-72, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass., $1.75 per issue, The purpose of this report is to assemble information concerning the early stages in the life history of the shrimp, Penaceus setiferus (Tinneeus) , which supports the most valuable commercial fishery of. the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions of the United States. Notes on the Little Piked Whale," by Leslie W. Scattergood, The Murrelet, January-April, 1949, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 3-16. Pacific Northwest Bird and Mammal Society, Washington State Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 95 cents per issue, In this report, the author supplements the data of Scheffer and Slipp (1948) and summrizes the kmowledge of this species. "Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations," by Oscar E, Sette, Copeia, April 15, 1949, no. 1, pp. 84-5. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich, (No reprints available.) A historical summary of the activities of the Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations to date and its purpose, MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATIONS MAY BE OBTAINED, IN MOST INSTANCES, FROM THE AGENCIES ISSUING THEM. The Clam Situation in South Carolina, by G. Robert Lunz, Contributions from Bears Bluff Laboratories No. 6, 7 p., printed, Bears Bluff Laboratories, Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina, June 1949. ‘This bulletin gives the pro- duction, value, and demand for South Carolina clams, It discusses briefly the South Carolina laws dealing with clam production, and concludes with certain recommendations for the clam fishery. Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics, Agricultural Research Admin- istration, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington 25, D. C., May 30, 1949. This is the fifth of a series of preliminary reports on studies of family food consumption to estimate present and potential family utilization of agricultural (including fishery) products and to obtain information on the nutritive content of diets in postwar United States, Almost 1,600 housekeeping families of two or more persons living in 68 cities with population of 2,500 or more gave information on their food consumption during one week in (April-June ) 1948, One table includes the average quantity and expense for purchases of fish and shellfish used at home per household per week, and percentage of households using these commodities by anmal income class, Fish were divided into the following categories: fresh, canned salmon, other canned fish, smoked and cured fish; and shell- fish into the following: fresh and frozen in shell, fresh and frozen shelled, canned and cooked shellfish. free, Economic Cooperation Administration, Washington, D.C., July 1949. One section of this booklet outlines ECA's procedure in providing dollar credits for European economic recovery, Other sections include names and addresses of foreign government purchasing missions procuring goods with ECA financing, with lists of commodities and services procured; names and addresses of foreign government missions engaged in the admin- istrative details of the Marshali Plan, but doing no buying; a list of U. S. Government agencies which upon occasion have purchased commodities with ECA finsncing, together with a list of commodities procured; a chapter on “The Prospective Exporter;" and a list of “Some Basic In- formation Sources" for prospective exporters, 64, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW Vole il, Noe 7 "Newfoundland's Fisheries," article, Fisheries Department Trade News, April 1949, vol, 1, no. 10, pp. 9-16, Director of Information, Department of Fisheries, Ottawa, Canada, ‘this article presents a review of the production and mar- keting structure of the fisheries of Newfoundland. ‘the 1948 data are given as far as they are available. I+ concentrates on analyzing the impact of Newfoundland'’s entry as the tenth province on Canadian fisheries production and trade, Oyster Culture in Florida, by Robert M, Ingle and F, G, Walton Smith, Edu- cational Series No. 5, 22 p., illus., printed, free. Division of Oyster Culture, Florida Board of Conservation, Tallehassee, Fle.,1949. The objective of this booklet is to provide the information necessary for the successful development of the oyster industry throughout the State of Florida, It contains information on the life of the oyster, the oyster industry, oyster cultivation, and a section giving data on the food value of the oysters with recipes for cooking then, Principles of Food Freezing, by Willis A,Gortner, Frederick 5, Erdman, and Nancy K, Masterman, 30 p., printed, illus., $3.75. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, N. Y., 1948. This book deals with all aspects involved in freezing from the raw materials to the finished products, I+t emphasizes the principles which underlie the handling of the various foods, including fishery products; explains the biochemical and mtritional aspects concerned in the freezing, storage, and cooking processes; and deals with the engineering principles involved in the construction and operation of the equipment, The materiel presented is divided into three general sections: I, The Product: Frozen Food; II. The Consumer and His Needs; III, The Enginsering of Food Freezing. The Red Tide, Educational Series No. 1, 14 p., illus., free, Marine Laboratory, ——~ University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla, Florida State Board of Conservation, Tallahassee, Fla,, 1948. This booklet discusses the red tide of 1946-47, its effects, its causes, when and where it is likely to return, what can be done to combat it, and the steps that can be taken to prevent or alleviate future attacks, Regional Consumption of Fish in Canada, by W. Van Vliet and W, E. Snaith, 71 p., processed, Economics Division, Department of Fisheries, Ottawa, Canada, March 1949. ‘This is an extensive study which attempts to bring out some of the differences in fish consumption between classified regions in Canada, It measures statistically the consumption of the major species of fishery products in various regions of Canada; points out the relationships exist- ing between consuming areas relative to: (1) the intensity of consumption, (25 the impact of fish producing areas, and (3) the importance of the major species and forms of species; and indicates some of the major factors that influence the differences in consumption between regions, Report of the Joint Brazil-United States Technical Commission (with appendixes), Publication 3487, International Organization and Conference Series II, Amer- ican Republics 5, 328 p., printed, $1.00, Department of State, Washington, D. C., June 1943, (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. c.}. ‘The Commission was created by authority of President Truman and President Dutra pursuant to the request of Brazil for the assistance of technicians of the United States Government to collaborate with technicians of the Brazilian Government in an analysis of the factors in Brazil which tend to promote or retard the economic development of the country, ‘The Commission has completed its task'and submitted this report. Brazil's fisheries, in addition to agriculture, transportation, and other subjects, were studied by the Commission. A sub-Commission drew up a long-range fisheries program with a goal for a three-fold increase in the production and distribution of fresh, canned and salted fish, This program envisages operation of an expanded fishing fleet, of receiving ports, and of refrig- erated transportation and marketing facilities, with Government financial aid and supervision, It includes also technical and educational work to promote the sound development of the fishing industry. July 1949 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 65 The Sea Fishes of Southern Africa, by J. L. B. Smith, 720 p., illus., with charts and color plates, printed, L2 12s 6a (approx, $10.50). Central News Agency, Ltd., Johannesburg, South Africa, A comprehensive and critical sci- entific revision of the marine fishes of South Africa. The book contains a key for identifying any fish found in the area covered, —— eee ee Fiskeri-og Havundersfgelser." The principal subjects dealt with are: the occurrence of cod in Greenland waters, the influence of temperature and currents on migration of cod, and fluctuations in the occurrence of cod, It deals at length with spawning habits, numerical characteristics (number of vertibrae and rays), growth and development of the cod, marking experiments, feeding habits, etc. Tagging Experiments on the Pacific Mackerel (Pneumatophorus diego » by Donald H, Fry, Jr., and Phil M, Roedel, Fish Bulletin 73, pe, illus., printed. California Bureau of Marine Fisheries, Division of Fish and Game, San Francisco, Calif., 1949. ‘This report gives a summarization of the Pacific mackerel fishing methods and tagging techniques, Tide Tables West Coast North and South America (Including the Hawaiian Islands), 1950, 206 p., printed, 25 cents. Coast and Geodetic Survey, U. S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C., 1949. ‘This publication contains full daily predictions for 37 reference ports and differences and constants for about 1,000 stations in North America, South America, and the Hawaiian Islands, It also has a table for obtaining the height of the tide at any time, a table of local civil time of sunrise and sunset for every fifth day of the year for different latitudes, or moonrise and moonset for 5 places, and a table of the Greenwich civil time of the moon's phases, apogee, perigee, greatest north and south and zero declination, and the time of the solar equinoxes and solstices. Trawling Gear in California, by W. L, Scofield, Fish Bulletin No, 72, 60 p., illus., printed. California Bureau of Marine Fisheries, Division of Fish and Game, San Francisco, Calif., 1948, Describes in detail the trawling gear used in California and gives an account of the development of the otter-trawl fishery. "Whale Oil Production in 1948-49 Approximates Last Season's Level," article, Foreign Crops and Markets, May 16, 1949, vol. 58, no. 20, pp. 476-78, free. Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations, Department of Agriculture, Wash- ington 25, D. C., Summarizes the data on the production of whale oil in 1948-49. Compares Southern Hemisphere production by countries with previous seasons and gives the equipment used in the 1948-49 season in Antarctic whaling by countries and type of equipment. D. C., June 2, 1949. Discusses the world production of whales and oil and trade in whale oil by countries; typés and uses of whale oil; and exports by specified countries, Also contains an outlook summary, Processing -- Miscellaneous Service Division lilustrator -- Gustaf T. Sundstrom Compositors -- Jean Zalevsky, Carolyn Wood 60605 WAAL 3 9088 01018 1030 CONTRIBUTION TO THE BIOLOGY OF THE KING CRAB Fishery Leaflet 340, "Contribution to the Biology of the King Crab (Paralithodes camtschatica Tilesius)," recently issued by the Service, gives the distribution of the king crabs Paralithodes camtschatica and P. platypus, as encountered on the Alaska King Crab Investigation of 1940-41. Observations made on the general biology of P. camtschatica during this time are presented, including mating and moulting habits, egg laying methods and fre— quency, development, size occurrences, and migratory, habitat, and food studies. It is emphasized that the king crab fishery, because of inherent biological reasons, should have certain definite protection measures. Copies of this Fishery Leaflet 340 can be obtained free upon request from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington 25, D. C. “PA tesuyg Aaedo qd 8% : *45 STddeusouL °N PIT { BqGTD °H 37eq0a oos’z - 6¢/L - BNNA wtod STOT °ON Fuaed SSANISNGA 1VIDISA0 ‘D ‘cd ‘SZ NOLONIHSVM SDIAUSS 3417 GTM ANV HSI4 YMOIWSLNI SHL JO LNAWLYVdSd S3aLVLS GSaLINN CO€$ ‘SDV1LSOd AO LNSWAVd GIOAV OL 3SN 3LVAINd YOU ALIVNSd cs a an neni e